Punjab plans heritage tourism policy

The Punjab government has formulated a plan for the promotion of heritage tourism and culture, and crafts, under which annual state festivals would be organised in the different parts of the state.

The tourism department has decided to develop 90 sites declared heritage sites and to preserve and develop old historic mansions as tourist resorts.

Punjab Tourism Minister Jagmohan Singh Kang said this while addressing a meeting of officers at Punjab Agricultural University, where the Punjab government is organising first such Punjab Mela to showcase the history and culture of Punjab, from September 21 to 28 at the PAU Campus, Ludhiana.

Speaking to Business Standard, the tourism minister said that the state had good potential for religious and heritage tourism to attract the NRI and foreign tourists. "Every year around 4 million tourists visit Amritsar; of them, 200,000 arrive by air.

With this Punjab Mela, people, particularly farmers, can avail themselves of the opportunity of seeing the oeuvre of artists of various states at a single place," Kang added.

Giving further details about the Punjab Mela, Kang said, "An exhibition-cum-sale of handicraft products has been organised as part of festivities.''

Jagjit Puri, secretary, tourism, said this would be the first such Mela in the state with five stages, where artists would present items relating to the heritage, culture, and folklore of the state.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will inaugurate the Punjab Mela, along with the Kisan Mela of PAU, tomorrow morning and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, deputy chief minister, would be chief guest at the cultural programme in the evening at PAU.