“Ski villages big and small, are coming up in different parts of the state and a Rs 2000-crore project is being set up by a private company in Manali. It is likely to come up in three years’ time,” S Ahluwalia, Commissioner, Tourism, Himachal Pradesh said.

Of the 75 lakh tourists, currently 5 to 6 lakh were high end who visited the state each year. The state’s population as per the last census, is 65 lakh.

He said that Air Deccan has started services to and fro Shimla seven days a week, while Jagson airline was operating services thrice a week.

Indian Airlines would start flights from Delhi to Bhuntar shortly which would be beneficial for high end tourists, he said.

If UNESCO granted world heritage status to the 96 km Kalka-Shimla railway, it would further boost tourism in the state, he said.

A UNESCO-team led by Robert Lee was in Shimla this month to evaluate the feasibility of the Kalka-Shimla railway being included as a world heritage site.
The team also met Chief Minister Vir Bhadra Singh.