India News | Modi Pitches for Round the Year Tourism in Uttarakhand, Says It Will Boost Economy

Harsil (Uttarakhand), Mar 6 (PTI) Making a strong pitch for round the year tourism in Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said there should be no off-season in the picturesque hill state and this would strengthen the state's economy in a big way.

Addressing a rally in Harsil after offering prayers at the village of Mukhwa, the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi district, the prime minister said visitors will get the true flavour of Uttarakhand if they come to the state in the winter.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Offers Prayers at Winter Abode of River Ganga in Mukhwa During Uttarakhand Visit (Watch Video).

"The government's vision of round the year tourism will strengthen the economy and create jobs for the youth," he said.

"We want border areas to reap the benefits of tourism," Modi added.

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Some villages were evacuated during the 1962 war with China and efforts are being made to rehabilitate them, the prime minister said.

He also referred to the two ropeway projects approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday -- Sonprayag to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji -- and said they would reduce travel time to 30 minutes.

Appealing to people to visit Uttarakhand in the winter months, he said, "When fog envelops the rest of the country, the state is bathed in sunlight."

A "360-degree approach to tourism" is needed, the Modi said.

The prime minister also flagged off a trek and bike rally.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)