Dehradun, 30 Aug 2005
The Uttaranchal government is trying to rope in the Army, Air Force, and Navy in setting up holiday homes in major hill resorts in order to promote the services tourism.
Taking a cue from the growing popularity of holiday homes in Europe and other countries, Uttaranchal Tourism Minister T P S Rawat, a retired lieutenant general, held a detailed meeting with Chief of the Army Staff J J Singh in New Delhi last week and tried to impress upon him the importance of running holiday homes to promote tourism.
“I have very meaningful and cordial talks with the Army chief regarding holiday homes,” Rawat said, adding he got positive assurance in this regard.
According to an assessment made by the state tourism department, nearly 12-14 new holiday homes can be built in the state. In this regard, the Uttaranchal tourism department believes it can attract thousands of officers of the three services to the hill state.
Already, all the three services are either having their big offices or cantonments in Uttaranchal. There are 10 -12 army cantonments including those of Lansdowne, Ranikhet, and Dehra Dun, Rawat said.
Moreover, the Army’s holiday homes in Mussoorie and Nainital are attracting officers from all the three services from every nook and corner of the country.
Rawat said he had held meetings with the chiefs of Air Force as well as of the Navy. All the three chiefs had agreed to set up holiday homes, which would give additional employment opportunities to the ex-servicemen.
He said the ex-servicemen, which are available in the state in large number, can manage these holiday homes.
Nevertheless, Rawat said these holiday homes would not be used by civilians but hoped that the government would attract a big chunk of tourists belonging to all the three services.
Uniformed Tourism
* The move to set up holiday homes in major hill resorts is to promote the services tourism
* State govt has taken a cue from the growing popularity of holiday homes in Europe
* State tourism department says nearly 12-14 new holiday homes can be built in the state
* Army’s holiday homes in Mussoorie and Nainital attract officers from all the three services from across the country
News Source: http://www.business-standard.com
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