Punjab Government is soon going to start ‘Chopper Tourism’ in Bathinda and Amritsar in collaboration with the private companies wherein the choppers will be used for tourism.
The initiative is amongst the efforts of the Punjab Government to turn the State into an epicentre of tourism, said the State Tourism and Jail Minister Sohan Singh Thandal while presiding over a function held to commemorate World Tourism Day by Bathinda Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association on Sunday.
Thandal said that on the lines of Chandigarh, open buses will be introduced in the State for tourism and also the work on project of starting vehicles in water is also on anvil.
Punjab Government was committed to take care of its rich cultural heritage, he said.
Thandal said that those civilizations that forget their heritage never develop in future. “Henceforth, under the guidance of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Punjab Government has constructed memorials commemorating various events of Sikh history so that the youngsters are made aware of the rich culture and heritage they belong to,” he said.
The Minister said that the Punjab Government set up Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Chhota and Waddha Ghallughara Memorials and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial at Chappar Chiri village. “Punjabis have made maximum contribution to the India’s struggle for Independence and for that Jang-e-Azadi Memorial is under construction at Kartarpur. Besides, Ram Tirath is being constructed in the memory of Bhagwan Valmiki,” he said.
Keeping in view the demand of Hotel Association, Thandal ordered formation of five-members committee that will review taxes imposed on hotels etc.
Thandal said that at Bathinda, Tiger Safari will soon come up and the State Government officers were in constant touch with the concerned Central department officials in this context.
“Bathinda is emerging as the hub of tourism in Malwa with the presence of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, old fort, deer safari, thermal lakes etc. In future, the tourism industry will create many job opportunities thereby fuelling the economic growth of State,” he said.
Thandal said that four new jails were being constructed in the State and to beef up security in all of these CCTV cameras were being installed. He said that the Bathinda’s new jail was being constructed at village Gobindpura that too will have CCTV cameras.