Deputy Chief Whip Keval Singh Pathania met Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama along with his family in McLeodganj on Monday and discussed various initiatives being undertaken to promote tourism and development in Kangra district.
Pathania informed that His Holiness the Dalai Lama appreciated the state government’s efforts to develop Dharamshala as the tourism capital and termed the expansion of Gaggal Airport a meaningful initiative. The Dalai Lama said the airport expansion would help Dharamshala emerge as a world-class tourist destination and improve travel facilities for visitors, monks, and followers arriving from India and abroad.
The Deputy Chief Whip said detailed discussions were held on multiple subjects during the meeting, and the Dalai Lama was briefed about various development initiatives being implemented by the present state government.
He added that the government is taking significant steps to strengthen road connectivity to promote tourism, while Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is personally monitoring tourism-related projects across the state.
Pathania further stated that the government is committed to developing Kangra district as a tourism capital. Several major projects are underway, including the development of a world-class zoological park, promotion of water sports activities at Pong Dam, and construction of Asia’s largest zipline at Naddi.
He emphasized that these initiatives will not only boost tourism in the region but also generate self-employment opportunities for local residents and strengthen the regional economy.
