Punjab Chief Minister CAPTAIN AMARINDER SINGH is personally looking into tourism not only as a growth driver but as an extension of Punjabi culture. His new policy is aimed at doubling tourist visits and establishing the State as a world class destination over the next five years and showcasing the grandeur of heritage. He talks about how his government is trying to usher in a change so that the State becomes a much sought-after destination

What initiatives have you taken to enhance the huge tourism potential of the State?

Punjab has many attractions which we are striving to promote through different initiatives. The Punjab State Tourism Policy, 2018, aims to strengthen the State’s potential and encompasses the fast-growing and organised sub-categories like rural, medical, historical, cultural and religious tourism. We are inviting the Punjabi diaspora to generate more international interest in the State.

Our focus is on conservation of important heritage buildings and infrastructure development for providing last-mile connectivity to tourist places. Development of eco-tourism in Harike, Ropar and Keshopur will go a long way in nurturing our ecological resources and promoting them as attractions.

The Patiala Heritage festival and the Sufi festival have emerged as big tourist draws. The unique Military Literature Festival, celebrated for the last three years, is an impressive platform for people from various walks of life to interact with historians, authors, poets, journalists and defence experts. I see these initiatives getting concretised further.

How are you ensuring last mile connectivity to each destination?

My government is strengthening and further improving the State’s road, rail and air connectivity to facilitate travel not just for our own people but also tourists. This was scaled up manifold ahead of the historic 550th Prakash Purb celebration of Sri Guru Nanak Devji when lakhs of people from around the world visited the State. Road connectivity from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan was developed as a part of these celebrations. At Sultanpur Lodhi, the road network has been upgraded/developed. Punjab got the Best Infrastructure Development Award by ICTCA in July 2017. In fact, the road and rail network is reaching the furthest end of the state. In addition, we also have a good air connectivity, with two international airports at Chandigarh and Amritsar, besides four domestic airports at Ludhiana, Adampur, Pathankot and Bathinda.

How are investments being facilitated in the hospitality and tourism sector?

We have declared tourism and hospitality as the “thrust sector” to facilitate investment. In fact, my government has provided liberal fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to investors in this sector, as part of the Industrial & Business Development Policy, 2017.

What are some of the amendments to the Punjab State Tourism Policy 2018 to make it more accessible for the differently-abled?

We have already approved amendment in the Punjab State Tourism Policy 2018 and Cultural Policy 2017 to make our sites accessible to the differently-abled, where a new section with special provisions has been included. Steps to implement these are being taken in right earnest and I have asked the Department to expedite the process. We need to bring places at par with international standards if we are to harness their full potential.

How do you plan to make people aware of Punjab’s rich history and encourage them to visit related sites while ensuring that they are maintained well?

We are well aware of the need to promote and market our tourism projects and are paying special attention to them. An agency has been hired for advertising, branding and marketing Punjab as a preferred tourist destination. We have a strategy in place to promote lesser known places of tourist interest. Reuse of most public sector heritage buildings being conserved has been defined along with their O&M. We’ve also constituted the Amritsar Cultural & Tourism Development Authority for maintenance and upkeep of important heritage buildings in Amritsar. As a result of these efforts, the Golden Temple, Amritsar, has been adjudged as the cleanest religious place. It received the Safaigiri Award in October 2017. The Golden Temple was also conferred an award for being the most visited place in the world at the Sixth International Tourism Conclave and Travel Awarded at Dehradun in October 2019.

What measures are being undertaken to preserve and bring lesser known folk forms to national and international fora?

The range of cultural art forms in Punjab is really wide and impressive. We are cognisant of the need to preserve them for our future generations and also to promote them on the domestic and global platforms. Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi, an autonomous body under the aegis of the Cultural Affairs Department, is looking after all performing arts and folk forms like Dhadi, Kawishri and folk dance. The Ishmit Music Academy in Ludhiana is also promoting music, culture, art and folk forms through training programmes, for which we have sufficient trainers and teams in place. In order to promote the cultural art forms, heritage festivals have been revived and held at Patiala, Kapurthala and Amritsar. Punjab has been conferred with the “Best Cultural Destination in India” award for 2019 by a travel magazine.

nDo you think initiatives like the Kartarpur Corridor would pave the way for a better relationship between India and Pakistan?

I have always maintained that we need to exercise caution in our relations with Pakistan and counter any attempt at infiltration and disruption of peace from across the border. At the same time, people to people contact between the two nations is vital to improve relations. The Kartarpur Corridor is, in my opinion, a step in the right direction, though the possibility of it being used by Pakistan to promote its nefarious anti-India designs cannot be ruled out. It is a Catch-22 situation, but with adequate security measures, it will strengthen friendly relations between the two neighbours. For us, in the Sikh community, it has come as a much-awaited initiative that has helped us realise our aspiration and dream for khulle darshan didar of the historic Sri Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.

What were the special activities to celebrate the 550th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev?

The 550th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was a blessed and historic occasion for all of us in Punjab and we took every possible step to ensure that it was celebrated in a manner befitting the occasion. No expense was spared and arrangements were initiated a year prior to the actual event. Actually, the celebrations started a year prior to the main event.

The main celebrations were held in a specially erected pandal, having a capacity of 20,000 people, from November 5 to 12 (Prakash Purab) at Sultanpur Lodhi. Sehaj Path was also held in this pandal during the time. The Prakash Purab Utsav was celebrated at Dera Baba Nanak from November 8 to 11, 2019.

Keeping lakhs of pilgrims coming to these historic towns in mind, three tented cities were set up at Sultanpur Lodhi and one at Dera Baba Nanak for providing tented accommodation to 38,500 pilgrims. A free service of intra-city mini buses and e-rickshaws was provided for the convenience of pilgrims.

In addition to the main events, light and sound shows were held all across the State to spread Guru Nanak Devji’s universal message of brotherhood and compassion. A special Vidhan Sabha session dedicated to Sri Guru Nanak Devji was held on November 6. The inter-faith conclave held at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in the presence of H E Dalai Lama, was another highlight of the celebrations. In addition, 550 Nanak Naam Leva (person who believes and follows teachings of in Guru Nanak irrespective of religion), prominent personalities from across the world, who have excelled in their respective fields were honoured to mark the occasion.

My government also launched gold and silver plated commemorative coins, besides a coffee table book Seone Ka Birkh and a Lonely Planet book, The Blessed Trail, on the life and times of Sri Guru Nanak Devji. Books were published by Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University on the life, time and teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev’.

What infrastructure projects were initiated by the State Government?

Considering the importance of this occasion and the universal global following of Sri Guru Nanak Devji, three major infrastructural projects were launched with the help of the Central Government. These were the establishment of the National Institute of Inter-Faith Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, a heritage museum called Pind Babe Nanak Da at Sultanpur Lodhi, in addition to inclusion of Sultanpur Lodhi in the smart city project and will be developed as a heritage city.

My Government undertook various projects for the overall benefit of the people. These included inauguration of Bebe Nanaki University College for Girls at Sultanpur Lodhi, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Invention, Innovation, Incubation & Training Centre (CIIIT) at the main campus of Punjab Technical University at Kapurthala and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Auditorium at Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala.

Besides this, construction was undertaken of four high-level bridges, two foot over bridges, one rest house, 16 roads including VVIP routes, construction of eight temporary parkings, two temporary roads, two pontoon bridges and repair/widening of two roads, fagade improvement, signages and more. We also built a major bridge on the creek of river Beas, undertook lining, cleaning, fencing and strengthening a stretch of left and right banks of Kali Bein by providing boulder stone pitching, ensured overall development of 70 villages/MC graced by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, set up a biodiversity park and planted 550 saplings in each village of the State.

What are the State Government’s plans to celebrate the 400th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur in the year 2021?

The State Government will celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadurji in 2021. A State level function will be organised and year-long activities would be kick-started on 399th Prakash Purab, which will be celebrated on April 12. The main function will be on April 18, 2021. We have requested the Prime Minister to constitute a national-level committee for observing this historic occasion. Besides, a permanent light and sound show, dedicated to Sri Guru Tegh Bahadurji and Sikh history, will be installed at Anandpur Sahib in the Virasat-e- Khalsa complex. The memorial of Bhai Jaitaji at Sri Anandpur Sahib will be completed on priority.