Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a high-level review meeting of the Tourism Department, where he emphasized scaling up "Game Changer Schemes" to boost tourism in Uttarakhand. Tourism Minister Shri Satpal Maharaj, Chief Secretary Shri Anand Vardhan, and other senior officials were present. CM Dhami said that Uttarakhand’s mountainous regions hold immense tourism potential that must be developed systematically. He instructed officials to expedite mapping of 115 new trekking routes and enhance winter tourism through special time windows for snow leopard sightings in Gangotri National Park. Referring to Ladakh’s Hemis National Park as a successful model, he suggested promoting winter tourism with trained local guides, limited tourists, and adherence to ecological norms.

To improve visitor experience and promote local cuisine, he also directed the formulation of a “Bed and Breakfast” policy. Chief Secretary Shri Anand Vardhan suggested opening Nanda Devi peak for mountaineering, positioning Uttarakhand on the global adventure tourism map.

The meeting also reviewed the state's major tourism initiatives:

1.      Deen Dayal Upadhyay Griha Awas Yojana – Encourages rural homestays. ₹49.77 crore granted to 1,085 beneficiaries so far, with a 2025–26 target of 245 new homestays.

2.      Trekking Traction Scheme – Implemented in 115 villages across 6 districts, linking homestays with trekking routes. Over 584 beneficiaries have received support.

3.      Uttarakhand Tourism Entrepreneur Incentive Scheme – Supports local investors with capital grants, interest subsidies, and stamp duty exemptions for projects between ₹1 crore and ₹5 crore.

4.      Adventure Tourism Development – Rafting routes expanded from 70 km to 570 km; 368 rafting agencies and 16 paragliding units are active. Training has been provided to 2,653 individuals, including 222 women.

CM Dhami affirmed the government's commitment to making tourism a key driver of Uttarakhand’s economy by fostering local employment, curbing migration, and promoting sustainable development.