SHIMLA: In a renewed push to revive business and cash-strapped operations ahead of the peak summer tourist season, the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has started exploring strategic collaborations with major government and corporate institutions across the country.
As part of this initiative, a high-level meeting was held at the New Delhi corporate office of IRCTC to explore future collaboration opportunities aimed at increasing occupancy in HPTDC hotels and tourism properties across Himachal Pradesh.
The move comes following directions from HPTDC Chairman RS Bali, who has been pushing for aggressive marketing and institutional partnerships to improve the corporation’s revenue generation.
The meeting was attended by senior IRCTC officials including Rahul Himalayan, Director (Tourism & Marketing), Promila Gupta and Pradeep Dhiman.
Sources said both sides discussed multiple possibilities for collaboration, including promotion of HPTDC properties through IRCTC’s nationwide tourism network and digital platforms. The possibility of selling HPTDC tourism cards through the IRCTC portal was also explored during the discussions.
Officials believe that a tie-up with IRCTC, a Government of India PSU with a massive national outreach, could significantly strengthen HPTDC’s visibility across India and help bring more tourists to Himachal Pradesh.
Managing Director of HPTDC is currently in Delhi holding meetings with various institutions and corporate houses to explore partnerships that can help improve occupancy levels in HPTDC units, especially during the ongoing summer travel season.
With the corporation facing financial challenges and stiff competition from the private hospitality sector, HPTDC is now banking on institutional tourism, digital outreach and strategic collaborations to increase revenue and regain its market presence.
