The Punjab Government is in the process of chalking out a comprehensive plan to make the State a hub of tourism sector besides connecting the youth with its rich cultural heritage.
Besides, the government may also approach the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) after coordinating with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to get places of cultural importance included amongst the ‘world heritage sites’.
The information was shared by the state Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu while chairing a high level meeting.
Sidhu said that there are ample places of cultural importance which deserve to be included amongst the ‘World Heritage Sites’, besides some other landmarks which fall under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). “UNESCO would be approached after co-ordinating with ASI to get such places included amongst World Heritage Sites,” he said.
Pointing at Punjab’s glorious cultural heritage, he said scores of devotees from all parts of the globe come to have a glimpse of religious and spiritual places. “Punjab has the potential to emerge as the frontline destination on world tourism map and based on this, the state would be developed to realize its tremendous potential ultimately leading to the boosting of its economy,” he said.
He also directed the officials to maintain original look of the cultural landmarks and warned that anybody tampering with these places would not be spared.
The Minister also batted for connecting the youth with rich cultural heritage of Punjab through Web TV as this is the internet age and present day youth is hooked to it.
Sidhu also divulged that every day, 1.25 lakh tourists visit Amritsar who return the same day after paying obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib.
“Amritsar alone has marvelous places like Durgiana Mandir, Jallianwala Bagh, War Memorial, Wagah-Attari Border, Gobindgarh Fort, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal which have great tourist potential. Amritsar can emerge as the leading player in the tourism sector and the number of people visiting the ‘holy city’ can increase manifold by providing every facility to them,” he added.
Expressing enthusiasm for encouraging tourism through domestic airports, Sidhu said that if Pathankot airport is operationalized, the area around Ranjit Sagar dam could be developed as prime centre of ‘adventure sports’ where tourists would make a beeline on the pattern of Goa.
Sidhu also floated the idea of connecting three Takhts (Sikhs’ temporal seats) and other religious places in Punjab through a circuit which would lead to rapid increase in the number of devotees.
Similarly, he also rooted for linking historical forts, sarais, memorials and other spots through a circuit besides a Film City which would give fillip to film tourism in the state.
Instructing the departmental officials to work in this direction, he was all for raising independent sources of income for the memorials constructed in the state so as to make them financially self-sufficient.
The Minister also laid emphasis on bolstering tourism through folk music, instruments, traditional festivals and craft items. Punjab Government is soon bringing out a cultural policy which would give a huge boost to the tourism sector, he added.