Punjab Government has unveiled a dedicated plan that seeks to harness the eco-tourism potential of the State.
launched in April this year, the plan is likely to be completed by mid-2016, said State Tourism Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur on Thursday. For the implementation of the plan, the State Forest and Wildlife Department is the nodal agency. “The focus would be on conservation of natural resources through awareness building, diversification of tourism activities and destinations, and local community participation and synergy with general development of tourism sector,” said Phillaur.
He added that the Eco-Tourism Policy was aimed at informing and sensitising the general public and related Government departments towards ecotourism and laying down the framework for its growth in the State in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable manner. The Government is developing 850 acres Keshopur wetland, known for attracting migratory birds from Siberia and central Asia, as an eco-tourism destination,” he added. Services like better infrastructure facilities, bird sanctuary, visitor-cum-site interpretation centre, including parking and toilet amenities, signage, development of embankment for storage of water, creating bird watch towers, plantation in 15 hectare of the wetland area along proposed facilities would be maintained by the eco-group formed by the local community under Forest and district administration.