Uttarakhand

• 28 Sep 2021

Workshop on ‘Responsible Tourism’

Why in News

• The Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) along with the Himalayan Knowledge Network (HKN) conducted a one-day workshop on Responsible Tourism on the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27, 2021.

Key Points

• The officials from various departments like tourism and forest along with Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Garhwal and Kumaon Universities, among others, participated in the workshop.
• While addressing the participants in the workshop, director of USAC MPS Bisht said Uttarakhand has so much potential in tourism. There is a need to bring responsible tourism across the State and develop Bugyals and spiritual circuits among others. Such initiatives will also generate employment opportunities for locals.
• HKN Nodal Officer Gajendra Singh said that there are over 145 universities, 2,000 professors and 500 scientists involved in research in the Himalayan region. The information sharing in most of the organisations is quite limited and HKN has been founded to tackle this matter.
• It is worth mentioning that Uttarakhand Space Applications Center (USAC) is the nodal agency in the state of Uttarakhand for space-technology related activities and has the right to employ space-technology for the benefit of the state and its people. It was formed in 2005 as an autonomous organization under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Uttarakhand.

'Uttarakhand Adventure Fest'

Why in News

• With the aim of promoting adventure sports, a two-day 'Uttarakhand Adventure Fest' was organized in Uttarakhand on 26-27 September, 2021.

Key Points

• Inaugurating this fest on 26 September, Forest and Environment Minister Harak Singh Rawat also launched the 'Single Window System' for mountaineering related services in Uttarakhand.
  
  • This portal will ensure ease of access for the tourists visiting the state.
• This adventure fest was organized by Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) in association with FICCI FLO.
• The Chief Minister made various announcements on the occasion. He said that all the proposals regarding tourism industries would be taken up especially by the tourism department instead of the industries department.
• The project will be taken up by the Urban Development Department and the Housing Department to establish a multi-level car-lift space especially for the tourist places of Uttarakhand.
• He announced the formation of Tourism Facilitation and Investment Cell in the state and a dedicated Eco-tourism wing under the Ministry of Tourism to explore ways to develop the tourism industry of Uttarakhand as a sustainable, eco-friendly industry.
• Along with this, he announced to hand over the Pandit Nain Singh Surveyor Mountaineering Training Institute to the tourism department. At present, the Sports Department runs the Nain Singh Surveyor Mountaineering Training Institute.
• The Forest Minister said that Uttarakhand has immense potential for thrill-seeking 'adventure tourism', which can create immense excitement among tourists in India and globally. He said that in November this year an Investment Conference on Adventure Action would also be organized at Ramnagar in Kumaon.
• Various stalls of local cuisine along with workshops on rafting, paragliding, mountain biking, hot air balloon, camping, ice-skating, kayaking were the center of attraction in this fest.