Bad condition of roads, particularly in tribal areas, is also proving to be a deterrence,' said Tek Chand Thakur, president of the Manali Hoteliers Association.

'Once air connectivity increases, tourism will get a major boost,' Thakur added.

The hill state attracts tourists from across the world, especially from Israel, Germany, Britain and several European countries.

According to Harnam Kukreja, president of Shimla Hoteliers and Restaurants Association, the Buddhist circuit that was introduced in 1992 has failed to pick up on expected lines due to the lack of infrastructure.

'Heli-taxi services, particularly in tribal areas, will definitely give a fillip to the tourism sector,' Kukreja said.

Himachal Pradesh, known for its apples, a World Heritage railway and picture-perfect tourist spots, last year attracted 9.37 million domestic and 367,000 foreign tourists.

Kullu and Manali are tourist hotspots, followed by Shimla and Dharamsala, the seat of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.