Travel Daily Media interviews Nitika Khandelwal (IAS), District Magistrate Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Nitika Khandelwal (IAS), District Magistrate of Tehri Garhwal
Set against the majestic backdrop of Uttarakhand’s hills and the growing appeal of lake, culture, and nature-based experiences, Tehri Garhwal is emerging as one of India’s most promising leisure destinations. Tehri Garhwal reported a 15% year-on-year visitor surge in 2025, with record-breaking 850,000 arrivals, the district has now set an ambitious target to surpass the 1 million mark in 2026. Speaking with Travel Daily Media, Nitika Khandelwal (IAS), District Magistrate of Tehri Garhwal outlined a multi-front strategy to achieve this 20% growth, leveraging new MICE infrastructure, formalised B2B trade partnerships, and a shift in traveller behavior toward high-altitude, nature-led experiences. She also elaborates on the impact of the Himalayan O₂ The Tehri Lake Festival, and how Tehri Garhwal is building a stronger, more distinctive tourism identity.
Travel Daily Media (TDM): Tehri Garhwal appears to be gaining strong traction as a leisure destination. How did the district perform in 2025, and what are your tourism growth ambitions for 2026?
Nitika Khandelwal (NK): According to the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) Annual Report 2025 and Ministry of Tourism visitor surveys, Tehri Garhwal attracted approximately 850,000 tourists in 2025, marking a 15% growth over 2024 (UTDB 2025). With strengthened marketing efforts and improved infrastructure, our target for 2026 is to surpass 1 million visitors, aiming for a 20% increase (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India projections 2025).
TDM: How important are partnerships with tour operators, travel trade stakeholders, and hoteliers in accelerating Tehri Garhwal’s tourism growth?
NK: We have formalised partnerships through MoUs with key B2B players such as the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and regional travel trade bodies (IATO official documents, 2025). Collaboration extends to local hoteliers under the Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI) guidelines, ensuring joint promotional campaigns and participation in FAM trips to amplify destination visibility (FHRAI Uttarakhand chapter, 2024).
TDM: Beyond its scenic appeal, what cultural and heritage experiences can travellers look forward to when they visit Tehri Garhwal?
NK: Tourists engage with Garhwali traditions such as Jagar and Langvir Nritya folk forms, visits to temples like Khatlingnag, and festivals catalogued in the official regional festival calendar (Uttarakhand Culture Dept., 2024). Authentic local handicrafts and cuisine also form an integral part of this experience (Ethnographic study, Himalayan Institute, 2023). The regional cultural and heritage portfolio is documented by the Uttarakhand State Department of Culture and Himalayan Research Institutes (Uttarakhand Culture Dept. Publications, 2024).
TDM: With demand rising for more intimate and nature-led corporate gatherings, how well positioned is Tehri Garhwal to host small-scale MICE and business events?
NK: Connectivity data from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Uttarakhand PWD reports indicate well-maintained road access between Dehradun and Tehri (NHAI Annual Infrastructure Status, 2025). Jolly Grant Airport passenger data (Dehradun Airport Authority, 2025) confirms regular flights connecting major cities, supporting ease of access. Regional resorts and hotels, evaluated in event infrastructure surveys conducted by local event management firms (2024), offer conference halls and meeting facilities suitable for small-scale MICE activities.
TDM: As global uncertainties continue to reshape travel behaviour, have you seen Tehri Garhwal benefit from a stronger domestic tourism shift?
NK: Reports from the Ministry of Tourism and industry studies from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) highlight a rise in domestic travel preference as geopolitical tensions globally have reduced outbound tourism (FICCI Tourism Sector Report, 2025). Tehri Garhwal’s domestic tourism growth aligns with UNWTO and WTTC findings emphasising a “stay-local” trend, leveraging the region’s cultural richness and natural beauty to appeal to cautious but eager travelers (UNWTO Tourism Trends Report, 2025).
TDM: What is at the heart of your marketing and sales strategy as you work to strengthen Tehri Garhwal’s identity as a tourism brand?
NK: Our marketing strategy draws from campaign briefs by Uttarakhand Tourism Board and digital marketing metrics from recent promotions, showing a 35% improvement in web traffic and social engagement in 2025 (UTDB Marketing Campaign Report, 2025). Key pillars include digital storytelling, influencer partnerships, participation in travel expos (IATO and FHRAI event participations, 2024), and community-led sustainable tourism promotion, as supported by local stakeholder engagement reports (UTDB, 2024).
TDM: The Himalayan O₂ The Tehri Lake Festival has helped put the destination in the spotlight. Why was this the right moment for the festival, what did it achieve, and what would you like to enhance going forward?
NK: Per the official post-event report by the festival organising committee (Himalayan O₂ Festival Report, 2025), the event was timed to capitalise on peak domestic travel and festival seasons. It successfully attracted over 15,000 attendees, boosting local businesses and raising destination awareness (Visitor Statistics, Himalayan O₂ Festival, 2025). Media coverage and participant feedback highlighted excellent event management but recommended enhanced waste management and improved transport connectivity for future iterations (Feedback Survey, Himalayan O₂ Festival, 2025).