The plan is being prepared following the directions of the Central Government.
The comprehensive plan will identify existing ecotourism sites and those sites which are ideal for developing ecotourism activities like trekking, rock climbing, forest trails, nature walks, angling, camping, bird watching among others.
About the proposed ecotourism plan, Sharma said that the composite plan will reflect HPs ecotourism potential, tentative sites on private and government land for sustainable practices and potential ecotourism development and its operationalizing procedure.
Bestowed with natural grandeur of snow capped Mountains, lush green valleys and picturesque locations, Himachal has immense ecotourism potential. The had earlier released its revised eco-tourism policy 2016 aimed at bringing the wilderness and virgin Ecosystems of Himachal closer to visitors and ensure adequate safeguards for the protection and conservation of Resources“>Natural Resources.
The policy aims at making the hill state a leading eco-tourism destination with eco-tourism activities attracting atleast 10 percent of overall tourists visiting Himachal by the year 2030.
In the past, the government had also identified 113 sites to be developed as ecotourism sites in the state.