Himachal govt plans to give tea tourism a major push

To tap into the tea tourism potential of the state, the Himachal Pradesh government is moving forward with plans to study the tea tourism model of West Bengal and frame a policy – which the stakeholders see as having a great potential to revitalise the tea industry.

- Dar Ovais

DHARAMSHALA:

Tea planters have highlighted that despite the historical significance of Kangra tea and the economic potential of tea tourism, the state government has yet to formulate a policy unlike in some other states.

However, chief minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently said efforts were being made to boost tourism in the state, with a special focus on tea tourism. He mentioned that the tea tourism model of West Bengal would also be studied for possible implementation in Himachal Pradesh.

In West Bengal, 15% of the total area is allowed to be utilised for tourism and allied businesses activities, under tea tourism and allied business policy. The policy also outlines that there shall be no reduction in the area under tea plantation and no retrenchment of the existing labour force engaged in tea gardens.

Tea is mainly cultivated in Himachal’s Kangra district and the industry stakeholders say that tea tourism has a lot of potential. An increasing number of tea planters are ready to embrace tea tourism as an alternative to keep the struggling tea business afloat amid dwindling production. The area under tea cultivation has also shrunk in recent years and estate owners are now embracing other alternatives to promote Kangra tea, known for its distinct flavour.