The Uttaranchal government has lined up an attractive package to give a boost to its tourism industry.

It is planning to introduce a helicopter service to Char Dham to attract foreign and elite tourists who can afford to pay more for the comfort and the savings on time.

The state has also involved the private sector to develop an eco-tourism hub: the first of its kind in the country.

An international ski resort complex in Dayara Bugyal in Uttarkashi, development of the historic 'George Everest' estate in Mussoorie and ropeway projects at key tourist destinations are among the other ambitious projects on the anvil in the state.

Char Dham comprises Gangotri and Yamunotri -- the sources of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna -- and Badrinath and Kedarnath. The four are considered the most hallowed shrines in the Himalayas.

Talking to rediff.com Naresh Nandan Prasad, secretary department of tourism of Uttaranchal government, said that the service would be introduced at the earliest.

"We had introduced a helicopter service to Kedarnath and have received encouraging response from the tourists. Five flights every day were packed for the entire period. Each passenger had to pay Rs 8,000 for the flight. After evaluating the tourists' response we have decided to introduce helicopter service for yatra (pilgrimage) to Char Dham too in new few months. Each yatri (pilgrim) would have to pay Rs 35,000 per trip per and it would be completed in two days," he said.

"Plans are afoot to harness Uttaranchal's exotic locations and pristine natural beauty," Prasad said.

He said that the tourism department would also introduce a helicopter service for Sikh pilgrims wanting to visit Hemkund Sahib. "Like the Kedarnath service, this would cost around Rs 8,000," he said.

The inflow of tourists in 2002 was 11.7 million as compared to 10.7 million during 2001.

"In the first four months more then 800,000 tourists have already visited Char Dham and we expect a sharp rise in tourist traffic this year," he said.

"The number of the foreign tourists visiting the picturesque state has remained more or less constant between 65,000-70,000 during the last few years. We expect this figure to go up once we introduce the chopper service to Char Dham," he added.

He said that the tourism department of the state accounts for over twenty-five per cent of the state's earnings.

The Uttaranchal tourism department had won 'Golden Elephant' award for the year 2002 for its splendid work in the field of tourism promotion from the government of India.

Prasad said that the state had decided to involve the private sector in the Hempur Eco Destination project in Ramnagar-Kanshipur area.

"The project envisages greenfield development of an eco-tourism hub in the Kumaon hills on 325 hectares of land, entailing an investment of Rs 512 crore (Rs 5.12 billion) by the private sector: the first of its kind in the country," he said.

"Groups which have approached the government include Mahindra Hotels and Resorts, DS Group, Purvankara, Omaze, Formento Group, Usha Breco, Delara Tourism, SPES and a consortium of Fairwood Consultants and Chescor Capital. Enquiries have also been received from several overseas developers and some leading corporates who are expected to participate in the project," he added.