With sustained visitor footfalls, a steadily expanding events calendar, and a renewed focus on managing seasonality, Uttarakhand is reinforcing its position as a truly year-round tourism destination. Abhishek Ruhela, IAS, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, reflects on how 2025 unfolded for the state and outlines the strategic priorities shaping its tourism roadmap for 2026.
The year 2025 proved to be both intense and instructive for Uttarakhand’s tourism sector. While pilgrimage continued to anchor volumes, the state sharpened its focus on events, niche experiences, and community-linked tourism to sustain momentum beyond peak periods and distribute visitor flows more evenly across regions.
Steady Footfalls Anchored by Pilgrimage and Events
Uttarakhand recorded robust visitor numbers in 2025, with tourist footfalls estimated at close to six crores, encompassing both domestic and inbound travel. While the Char Dham Yatra remained the cornerstone of tourism activity, sustained movement was also evident across leisure destinations, adventure hubs, and emerging experiential circuits, signalling a broader consumption of tourism products.
Reflecting on the year, Ruhela described 2025 as one of steady momentum, marked by resilience and diversification. “We witnessed a strong Char Dham Yatra in 2025. While there were temporary disruptions due to natural factors, overall footfalls remained healthy throughout the season,” he said.
Following the yatra, the state shifted focus towards emerging destinations such as Adi Kailash Parvat, supported by event-led initiatives including the Adi Kailash Parikrama Run. “Building on this momentum, we are planning the Neeti Valley Extreme Ultra Marathon in the coming summer season,” he added.
Winter Tourism Takes Centre Stage
A significant strategic shift during the year was the renewed focus on winter tourism. Uttarakhand Tourism worked closely with district administrations to activate the winter calendar through a series of festivals, carnivals, and adventure-focused events.
Key initiatives included the Winterline Carnival in Mussoorie, the Winter Carnival in Nainital, and the Acro Festival in Tehri, each designed to showcase the state’s seasonal appeal while encouraging visitor movement during colder months. The state is also preparing to host International Yoga Week towards the end of February or early March.
Across districts, tourism-linked conclaves, bird-watching initiatives, cultural festivals, and adventure programmes were curated. Explaining this approach, Ruhela said, “Our objective has been to create reasons for travel across all seasons. Winter tourism is no longer limited to a few destinations, and district-level events have helped activate diverse regions through culture, adventure, and wellness-led experiences.”
Accelerating High-Altitude Adventure and Mountain Tourism
Uttarakhand continues to consolidate its standing as a global hub for adventure and mountain tourism through a series of landmark initiatives and international-standard sporting events that highlight the state’s unique high-altitude terrain.
The Adi Kailash Parikrama Run, held on November 02, 2025, marked a significant milestone, featuring a demanding 60 km ultra-run conducted at an altitude of 4,320 metres. The event drew athletes from 22 Indian states and earned recognition among the world’s top five highest-altitude marathon events, reinforcing Uttarakhand’s growing credibility as a destination for extreme endurance sports.
Building on this momentum, the Neeti Valley Extreme High-Altitude Marathon is being proposed as an international event, with plans to extend the race distance to 75 km. Once implemented, the event is expected to rank among the world’s top six highest-altitude marathons, further enhancing Uttarakhand’s global profile in adventure tourism.
Complementing these endurance events, the state has also expanded its focus on aerial and precision sports. The Tehri Acro Festival, National Speed Invariant Flight (SIV) Championship, and Paragliding Accuracy Championship, organised on January 27, 2026, and including events in Bageshwar, underscored Uttarakhand’s growing role as a multi-discipline adventure sports destination. Together, these initiatives reflect a strategic push to position the state as a year-round centre for high-impact adventure tourism on the global stage.
Ruhela added, “The State also conducts annual mountaineering expeditions for young climbers, implements the Trek of the Year initiative, and is finalising trekking guidelines for safe and sustainable trekking. In a major boost to mountaineering, 83 peaks across the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas have been opened, with expedition fees waived for Indian climbers and Forest Department fees exempted for foreign climbers, requiring only Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) charges. Additional initiatives such as snow leopard sightings in Darma Valley (Dharchula), winter carnivals in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, and Chamoli, and water adventure carnivals further reflect Uttarakhand’s integrated approach towards year-round adventure tourism development.”
Coordination and On-Ground Disaster Management
Operating in a fragile Himalayan ecosystem, Uttarakhand continues to face periodic disruptions due to natural events, particularly during the monsoon and winter months. Ruhela stated, “The biggest challenge we face is the fury of nature. Infrastructure and tourism-related facilities developed over the years are often disrupted by natural disasters that occur at different points throughout the year. This remains one of the most significant challenges for the sector.”
Acknowledging these challenges, Ruhela noted that inter-departmental coordination has become increasingly critical in managing visitor movement and safety. He said that strengthening preparedness, forecasting, and response mechanisms remains a continuous priority.
The tourism department works closely with the police, SDRF, district administrations, and disaster management authorities to issue advisories, strengthen first-response systems, and prioritise tourist safety during emergencies.
Homestays and Community Centric Tourism
Homestays continue to form a cornerstone of Uttarakhand’s tourism development strategy, particularly across hill and remote districts. Currently, over 5,700 homestays are registered on the state’s official platform, offering travellers access to local culture, cuisine, and village life.
Discussing the programme, Ruhela mentioned, “Homestays have been an integral part of tourism in Uttarakhand for several years. Our focus now is on expanding their reach into remote areas while simultaneously strengthening capacity, skills, and service quality. Training and skill development initiatives are being rolled out for homestay owners and service providers, aimed at improving guest experience and operational standards. In addition, the state is developing model village clusters where a concentration of homestays can be positioned as immersive rural tourism destinations.”
Alongside this, Uttarakhand is actively developing a workation ecosystem, encouraging longer stays in village settings. The initiative is targeted at professionals and corporates seeking flexible work environments in scenic locations. “We are working towards creating an ecosystem where people can stay in villages, work remotely, and engage meaningfully with local communities,” noted Ruhela.
Film Tourism and Destination Visibility
Film tourism continues to play a vital role in enhancing destination visibility, even as it is administratively handled by the Department of Information and Public Relations. Uttarakhand Tourism actively supports efforts to position the state as a filming destination through outreach, media partnerships, and influencer engagement.
“Cinema definitely has a strong influence on how destinations are perceived. Through our channels, we continue to encourage filmmakers and influencers to explore Uttarakhand’s natural settings,” said Ruhela.
Wildlife and Birding Tourism Gain Ground
Wildlife tourism is emerging as a niche opportunity, particularly following recent snow leopard sightings in the Nelang Valley of Uttarkashi’s Gangotri National Park and the Darma Valley in Pithoragarh district. Over time, these sightings have generated interest among nature enthusiasts and conservation-focused travellers.
Ruhela confirmed that the tourism board is working closely with the Forest Department to explore the possibility of structured wildlife experiences. These are sensitive habitats, and any tourism activity must be developed responsibly. “For both these locations, we are working with the Forest Department to streamline processes. In the coming days, we aim to conduct sighting tours, which will be developed as specialised activities for nature enthusiasts interested in observing snow leopards,” said Ruhela.
Birding tourism has also gained traction, with regions such as Pangot–Nainital, Sattal- Bhimtal, Mandal Valley, Chopta, Binsar, Munsiyari, Mukteshwar, Asan Barrage and areas around Corbett attracting birdwatchers across seasons, offering sightings of both resident and migratory species.
Differentiation Through Diversity
When asked about Uttarakhand’s competitive advantage among northern hill states, Ruhela pointed to the state’s diversity as its strongest differentiator. He said, “Uttarakhand offers a unique combination of spiritual destinations, cultural traditions, varied topography, and distinct seasonal experiences.”
From Rishikesh to Om Parvat, the state presents a wide range of climates, landscapes, cultural and travel experiences. This diversity allows Uttarakhand to offer a range of products across seasons, reinforcing its positioning as a year-round destination.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As it moves into 2026, Uttarakhand Tourism is sharpening its focus on forward planning and targeted market outreach to support sustained growth. An annual calendar of events has been finalised well in advance, allowing for more structured execution, improved coordination on the ground, and stronger engagement with domestic and international markets. The early planning approach is also expected to enhance collaboration with industry stakeholders, event organisers, and local communities.
Explaining the rationale behind this strategy, Ruhela said, “Planning ahead allows us to reach the right audience at the right time, while also enabling better coordination with stakeholders.” This proactive approach reflects Uttarakhand Tourism’s intent to position its offerings more strategically, ensure consistency in messaging, and maximise the impact of its events and promotional initiatives throughout the year.
Responsible Travel at the Core
For tourists, Ruhela called for responsible travel practices, urging visitors to remain sensitive to local culture, communities, and the fragile mountain environment. He emphasised that mindful travel, respecting traditions, minimising ecological impact, and engaging thoughtfully with local livelihoods, is essential to preserving the very experiences that draw visitors to the state.
Addressing residents, he highlighted the importance of adopting sustainable and responsible ways of living as Uttarakhand continues to build long-term destination value. Community participation, he noted, plays a crucial role in shaping authentic and resilient tourism ecosystems.
Ruhela also encouraged the travel trade fraternity to look beyond established circuits and engage more deeply with Uttarakhand’s evolving tourism landscape. “There is significant potential across regions and seasons. Tour operators who invest time in exploring Uttarakhand’s lesser-known destinations and emerging experiences will be better positioned to sell the state meaningfully and sustainably,” said Ruhela.
