The event was graced by:
Shri Satpal Maharaj
Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Irrigation, Culture
Shri Bansi Lal Rana ACEO Uttarakhand Tourism
Shrimati Poonam Chand Additional Director UTDB
Shri Rajiv Mehra Immediate Past President IATO
Shri Ved Khanna President ADTOI
Shri Vaibhav Kala Vice President ATOAI
Shri Prashant Maithani President UTRA
Main agenda was to get tour operators, travel agents, transport operators, adventure tourism operators, homestay, hotel owners in Uttarakhand together for an inclusive discussion about tourism procedures, obstacles, solutions, environment sensitivity in Uttarakhand since 2000 and its way forwards from 2025 ahead.
The meet was also attended by:
Col Ajay Kothiyal Youth Foundation
Shri Lokesh Ohri NGO Been There Doon That
Shri Saket Badola IFSC Director Corbett National Park
Shri Mohd Shoeb Vice President North Region Pride Hotels
Shri Satpal Maharaj thanked UTRA for organising this event and laid out his vision and work done by Uttarakhand Tourism.
Notable mention was 42 lac+ visitors on Chardham Yatra 2025 so far.
Maharaj Ji mentioned various schemes launched and those in pipeline to propel Uttarakhand Tourism.
Notable schemes mentioned were Panchkedar, Panchbadri, Shiva Circuit, Shakti Circuit, Vishnu Circuit, Vivekanand Circuit encompassing prominent temples of Garhwal and Kumaon and those related to spiritual gurus in Uttarakhand was also informed.
Increasing income of homestays was also emphasised, he proudly informed there are 5000+ homestays in Uttarakhand now.
Future tourism projects notably collaboration with Nepal with regards to Terai Tourism was informed.
Road accessibility progress near Lipulekh to Kailash Parvat viewing point was also informed to the audience.
He also thanked Central Govt for facilitating Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a long gap.
He urged the audience and promised to look forward to any proposals or plans for benefit of tourism in Uttarakhand.
Last but not least, he appealed to businesses to register with GST in Uttarakhand so as to benefit the state financially.
