Himachal Tourism Department signed Pact with IRCTC for Managing its Establishments

The Himachal Tourism Department on 16 January 2012 signed a pact with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation for managing its establishments in the hill State as the department was unable to run its restaurants and wayside eating joints.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Himachal Tourism and Civil Aviation Director Arun Sharma and Chief Regional Manager of Railways Sohan Singh.

The IRCTC would manage the restaurants at the Himachal Tourisms Reception Centres in prime locations in Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts. Except for a few hotels and restaurants in the hill capital, majority of establishments being run by the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation are currently running in losses.

The tourism department of the state with the consent of the Union Tourism Ministry plans to develop about three dozen wayside amenities on various national and State highways for the burgeoning tourism in the State.

The wayside establishments would be given to NGOs, Co-operatives and village Panchayats for management. These joints would have railway booking counters and touch screen kiosks along with tourist reception centres.

Himachal is one of the most preferred and visited tourist State after Kerala and Rajasthan in the country.