06-10-2026:Tourism Secretary Shri Dhiraj Singh Garbyal met Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) at Lok Bhavan

Lok Bhavan Uttarakhand-Information Wing
Press Note

Tourism Secretary Meets Governor, Briefs Him on Tourism Activities in the State

Lok Bhavan Dehradun 06 October, 2026

Tourism Secretary Shri Dhiraj Singh Garbyal met Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday. During the meeting, he briefed the Governor in detail about tourism activities being undertaken in the state in 2026, the Char Dham Yatra, and initiatives related to winter and adventure tourism.

The Tourism Secretary informed the Governor that more than 56 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the Char Dham Yatra so far in 2026. He also apprised him of the efforts being made by the department to promote winter tourism in the state, as well as ongoing and proposed activities in the field of adventure tourism.

The Governor said that, given Uttarakhand’s geographical and natural diversity, tourism should not remain confined to travel and religious destinations but should be linked with year-round activities. He emphasised the need to develop new tourism products in the hill districts based on local conditions, natural resources and the unique tourism potential of each region.

The Governor directed the Tourism Department to prepare a district-wise annual calendar of adventure tourism activities. He said the calendar could include trekking, mountaineering, river rafting, paragliding, cycling, motor sports and other adventure activities, based on the distinctive geographical conditions and tourism potential of each district. This would help attract tourists to Uttarakhand throughout the year while creating new avenues of employment and self-employment for local youth.

The Governor laid particular emphasis on making winter tourism an important pillar of Uttarakhand’s tourism economy. He said the state’s unique natural and adventure-based winter experiences should be effectively showcased to tourists from across the country and abroad. He stressed the need to organise and promote activities such as snow leopard sightings, Himalayan car rallies and ultra-marathons on a larger scale as part of the state’s winter tourism offerings.

He further said that promotion alone would not be sufficient to strengthen winter tourism in Uttarakhand. Necessary local infrastructure and facilities, connectivity, safety arrangements, trained human resources and homestay facilities should also be strengthened to provide visitors with a better and more fulfilling tourism experience.

The Governor emphasised the importance of ensuring the participation of local communities in tourism activities. He said this would ensure that the economic benefits generated through tourism reach local people directly and create employment opportunities for youth within their villages and regions. He also stressed the need to integrate local culture, traditional cuisine, handicrafts and folk traditions with tourism.

Appreciating the efforts being undertaken by the Tourism Department, the Governor said that Uttarakhand should move towards establishing itself as a year-round tourism destination through systematic, innovative and sustainable initiatives.
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