Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 27 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday expressed happiness after four villages of the state were honoured with the Best Tourism Village Award on World Tourism Day, saying "it is a matter of great pride for 'Devbhoomi' Uttarakhand."
Four villages of the state--Jakhol, Soopi, Harshil and Gunji--received the Best Tourism Village Award on the occasion of World Tourism Day.
The Chief Minister reaffirmed the state government's strong commitment to promoting tourism in Uttarakhand and said that the Home Stay Scheme is proving to be very beneficial in this regard.
"CM Dhami said it is a matter of great pride for Uttarakhand that four villages of the state, Jakhol, Soopi, Harshil and Gunji, received the Best Tourism Village Award on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The state government is fully committed to promoting tourism in the state. The state government's Home Stay Scheme is proving to be very important in this regard," according to an official release.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government is also promoting adventure tourism activities in the state along with developing new tourist destinations, which is helping generate employment in the state.
"The state government is doing the best work in every field by following the path shown by him. With the cooperation of the public, positive results are coming in every field in the state. He said that unemployment has come down by 4.4 per cent in the state," said CM Dhami.
"Uttarakhand has come first in the ranking of Sustainable Development Goals released by NITI Aayog. The Chief Minister said that the state government has set an example by implementing strict anti-cheating laws to prevent cheating in examinations. As a result of this, the state government has succeeded in recruiting more than seventeen thousand posts with complete transparency in the recent past," it added.
Further, Chief Minister Dhami said that works are underway at a fast pace to implement the Uniform Civil Code.
Earlier on World Tourism Day on Thursday, CM Dhami said that Uttarakhand has a special place on the tourism map of the country and the world due to its rich culture and heritage.
The diversity of the multifaceted folk culture, handicrafts, natural beauty, folk music, and dances of the state in the festivals, fairs, and celebrations here has always been a centre of attraction for tourists, he added.
The Chief Minister said, "The Char Dhams have been the centre of faith for crores of people in the country and the world for centuries. Tourism has an important contribution to strengthening the economy of the state. He mentioned that the expansion of road connectivity and air connectivity will definitely boost the tourism of the state and will be beneficial for the economy of the state."
He further said that with the cooperation of the Central Government, air connectivity is also being strengthened in the state.
"The dream of rail in the hills is going to be fulfilled. Due to the natural beauty of the state, there are immense possibilities for tourism, industry, and trade here. Homestay is being further promoted in the state. This will also strengthen rural tourism and the economy," he said.
The Chief Minister said that tourism is the basis of both development and employment in the state. Tourist places are the symbols of our historical and cultural civilisations and our identity.
In Uttarakhand, the centre of divinity and spiritual experience, a plan is being implemented to develop new tourist places to link tourism with employment.
He said that Uttarakhand has always been ready to welcome guests along with spreading the message of "Atithi Devo Bhava" in the country and the world.
The Chief Minister also appealed to the people of the state to participate in spreading the importance of World Tourism Day to the people while maintaining our glorious tradition of welcoming and hospitality to the tourists coming to the state and preserving historical monuments.