Sunil Singh Rana, Chairman of IATO Uttarakhand, talks to T3 about the state’s evolving tourism industry and emphasizes the importance of the recently launched initiatives to drive sector development.
Uttarakhand has emerged as one of the fastest growing states in India with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2015 to 2021. To sustain this progress, the tourism sector needs to innovate and evolve according to the needs of the visitors.
As per the current scenario, Sunil Singh Rana, Chairman of IATO Uttarakhand Chapter believes that the tourism sector is set to grow. However, he emphasised, “For 2024, the projections are slightly cautious. We expect a modest increase in tourist numbers compared to the last year.” The number of tourists visiting Uttarakhand has consistently increased with a CAGR of 11.97% from 2014 to 2019. Post-Covid, the increase in arrivals has multiplied significantly.
Sharing further, Rana said the state is aiming to extend the average length of tourist stays to 4-5 days and increase the proportion of foreign tourists among non-religious visitors to 5%.
To bring in more tourism in the state, several initiatives were introduced.
One notable project is the Manaskhand Express, a collaborative effort between Uttarakhand Tourism and IRCTC. This 10-night journey through the Kumaon region showcases the area’s spiritual landmarks.
Additionally, the Nakshatra Sabha astro-tourism campaign, launched by Uttarakhand Tourism and Starscapes, is running from June 2024 to mid-2025. This initiative features stargazing, astrophotography, and camping events across the state. “The initiative also focuses on preserving dark skies and provides skill development for locals, aiming to position Uttarakhand as a global astro-tourism destination,” Rana noted.
The Uttarakhand Tourism DevelopmentBoard (UTDB) has also partnered with IRCTC to launch the Kedar Badri Kartik (Murugan) Koil Yathirai, a special trainrunning from Madurai to Rishikesh.
Moreover, the UTDB has launched a portal for booking homestays across Uttarakhand. The portal allows users to rate their stays, offering real-time feedback for owners to improve their services. Rana said, “With nearly 5,000 registered homestays, the platform allows owners to list their properties without incurring integration fees or platform charges, while also enabling users to provide real-time feedback.
Further, the Deendayal Upadhyay Homestay Scheme offers subsidies and training to enhance service standards among homestay owners. Lastly, the tourism department has increased its digital marketing efforts across social media platforms to promote offbeat destinations, cultural events, and local fairs, shared Rana.
On the contrary, he also pointed out the primary obstacles to tourism growth that the local agents are facing.”There is a heavy reliance on popular destinations like Char Dham, with lesser known spots receiving insufficient attention.
Additionally, issues such as overcrowding and traffic mismanagement need addressing,” he stressed. Rana called for improved marketing of offbeat destinations and better management of tourism infrastructure to sustain growth.
Reflecting on the recent budget allocation, he further commented, “The budget aligns with global trends by focusing on leveraging Uttarakhand’s natural beauty through eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and spiritual tourism.” The recent budget allocation for Uttarakhand’s tourism sector emphasises infrastructure development, sustainable tourism, and community engagement. Significant funds have been directed towards improving road connectivity, enhancing tourist facilities,
