CM Dhami reviews game changer tourism schemes for Uttarakhand growth

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday held a virtual review of the Tourism Department’s ‘Game Changer Schemes’, focusing on private investments under the Tourism Policy-2023, initiatives promoting rural tourism, and various self-employment schemes.

During the review, the Chief Minister instructed officials to present a detailed account of the total private investment attracted since the Tourism Policy came into effect, the status of signed MoUs, their implementation, and the investments made under different tourism-related projects. “Tourism is not only a means of increasing the number of tourists, but also of economic empowerment, local employment generation and stopping migration,” he said, according to an official release.

Calling for renewed efforts to strengthen passenger facilities and promote winter tourism, Dhami emphasized that the state's future lies in inclusive, tourism-based development, which the government is actively prioritizing. He also said attention must be given to developing new destinations while evaluating the carrying capacity of major tourist hotspots, including Mussoorie and Nainital.

The CM called for fast-tracking the implementation of the 'Tracking Traction Centre Home-Stay Grant Scheme' to engage more local families from mountainous areas in the homestay model, providing them with both financial and technical assistance, and thereby boosting self-employment near trekking routes.

While reviewing the 'Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Tourism Self-Employment Scheme', Dhami directed officials to ensure timely loans and grants to the youth. He further said that the scheme’s impact on youth participation, village involvement in homestays, and its role in reducing migration must be evaluated.

He also instructed the Tourism Department to begin work under the master plan for the ‘Golju Corridor’ (Almora, Champawat, Ghorakhal), and to develop Rudraprayag’s religious sites into an integrated tourist circuit. He called for a structured plan to ensure regular operation of tourism activities such as mountain biking, paragliding, aero sports, and river rafting, in addition to allocating a special budget for their publicity and conducting carrying capacity assessments of each site.

To tap into the growing potential of wedding tourism, the CM directed a special campaign to identify and promote new locations. He also emphasized the need to submit an action plan within a month for developing Gangotri and Dhyanotthan areas into wellness and spiritual hubs under the ‘Spiritual Economic Zone’ concept. “Game Changer Schemes are not only promoting tourism but also economically empowering the citizens of the state, especially women and youth,” Dhami said.

He also stressed the importance of effective implementation, transparent grant disbursal, and ensuring that investments translate into visible benefits on the ground. Additionally, a strategy was discussed for expanding the ‘Vibrant Village Scheme’ in border regions and developing theme-based ‘Tourism Villages’ at the panchayat level.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that under the ‘Deen Dayal Upadhyay Griha Awas Yojana’, around ₹50 crore has been granted to 1,085 beneficiaries so far, and 5,331 homestays have been registered. A target has been set to add 245 new homestays during 2025–26, with Tehri, Nainital, and Chamoli districts showing notable progress.

Through the ‘Tracking Traction Scheme’, 584 beneficiaries across 115 villages have been supported, with 18 trekking centres developed—primarily in Tehri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh.

Officials also shared updates on the 'Tourism Entrepreneur Incentive Scheme', aimed at attracting high-value projects above ₹5 crore while supporting local investors with projects worth ₹1–5 crore. So far, 909 applications have been received through the single-window system, with 70% of investors falling in the under ₹5 crore category.

Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, and other senior officials were present at the review meeting.