Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Sohan Singh Thandal on Thursday sought from the Union Government an ‘on arrival’ visa facility for the international tourists landing at Amritsar and Mohali International airports.
Punjab has a lot of scope in heritage, historical, religious and farm tourism, but the journey via New Delhi becomes longer for the foreigners, he said after interacting with a group of 32 students from 10 different countries who had come for a seven-day visit to Punjab.
Thandal expressed his opinion that if the foreign visitors are extended visa on arrival at Amritsar and Mohali airports, ‘it is quite likely that the number of tourists to the State would show a phenomenal rise thereby giving a great push to the economy’.
The foreigner students had come for a 21-day visit to India and had come to Punjab after completing 14-day tour to Delhi and Agra.
‘Punjab extending hospitality to them as patron State and have declared these 32 students from 10 different countries as the state guests,’ he said.
The group included eight students from Israel, five from Mauritius, four each from France and South Africa, three from Trinidad, two each from Malaysia, Fiji and Myanmar and one each from Canada and Sri lanka.
During the seven-day visit to the State, they were taken to Golden temple, Durgiana Temple, Jallainwala Bagh and Wagah Border in Amritsar, Science City and old fort at Kapurthala, Virasat-e-Khalsa and Takth Kesgarh Sahib at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Sheesh Mahal and Quila Mubarak at Patiala, Banda Bhadhur Memorial at Chapar Chiri and various tourist attractions in Chandigarh.
The minister informed that the students were much impressed by the heritage, historical and religious places of Punjab and added that these students had come for a seven-day visit to Punjab as a part of 35th edition of ‘Know India’ Programme.
“Punjab Government has paid special attention to develop the heritage places as Centres of tourist attraction. Not only have the old historical sites been conserved, but many new memorials have been constructed to commemorate the historical events like the Chhota and Wadda Ghalughara. Jang-e-Azadi memorial will also be ready soon,” he said.