This year, the much awaited winter carnival in Manali has added some awesome features in order to enlarge its reach among the local and foreign tourists. The festival was kicked off on Wednesday and will run until Monday. Apart from showcasing the rich culture of state carnival’s organizers included plethora of snow games for tourists. Ensuring the maximum participation of tourists, organizers will select Winter Queen and Mr. Manali during the carnival, which is also open for tourists.
A tourism official said:
The idea is to ensure tourists interaction with local residents to cultivate a good relation and hospitality. After all, Manali is a tourist town.
To organize winter games during fiesta district administration has teamed up with the Western Himalaya Institute of Mountaineering and Trekking and Allied Sports. It will feature a slew of snow sports, including skiing competitions for the sub-juniors and juniors at Solang Nallah Ski valley about 15 kms from Manali. The valley features variety of ski slopes in between December to June apart from skiing in winter.
There are eight private ski clubs and about 180 skiers who are conducting commercial skiing for tourists at Solang Nallah and Rohtang Pass. However, inadequate snowfall in the ski resort so far generating some teething troubles for organizers.
Tourism is a 100 million dollar industry in Himachal Pradesh that backs state’s economy very strongly. Last calendar year state witnessed 67 lakh tourists and the government is expecting 10 per cent growth in 2007.
Via: NewKerala
