Inbound

Punjab Tourism says ‘balle balle’ to tourists

Neeti Chopra -New Delhi

In its bid to substantially increase the flow of inbound tourists into the state in the next couple of years, Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) has charted a roadmap with special emphasis on medical and heritage tourism and is encouraging participation from the private sector.

The state government has zeroed in on the magnificent Rajendra Kothi in Patiala to kickstart its campaign of rejuvenating the rich heritage of the state. PTDC will enter into a joint venture with Neemrana Hotels for restoration of this property soon.

Besides, the government also has elaborate plans to spruce up Patiala through the Heritage Festival to be hosted in February 2006. "The idea is to put Patiala on the national tourist calendar and make the place a part of the international tourist itinerary. The festival is likely to bring in major changes in the city as a number of developmental and restoration schemes, targeted at monuments in the city, are being undertaken at a brisk pace," said Jagjit Puri, managing director, special secretary and director tourism, Punjab. A light and sound show has been proposed for Patiala that is likely to come up in the next six months.

To promote medical tourism in the region, the government will target not only NRIs from South Asian countries but also cater to tourists from developed countries. Unfolding the plan to promote medical tourism, Puri said, "What we need is a strategic policy and a plan in place. These efforts need to be co-ordinated with health and medical institutions, tour and travel operators, hotels and government agencies who are responsible for the upkeep of major tourist places in the state."

The blueprint of the plan chalked out by the government to achieve the desired results in medical tourism would focus on eight areas such as cardiology, orthopaedics, dental, ophthalmology, urology, cosmetology, ayurveda, yoga and homeopathy to begin with. Providing further assistance, Hotels and Restaurants Association of Northern India (HRANI), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the state government have set up a joint action committee with a clearly defined task and identified 40 hotels and 40 hospitals for overseas patients and their families in major towns like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mohali, Nawanshahr, Pathankot, Barnala, Gurdaspur, Bhatinda and Hoshiarpur.

Among various other initiatives, PTDC is aggressively promoting districts like Bhatinda, Muktsar and Faridkot that are virtually absent from the tourism map of Punjab. Moreover, Chandigarh Administration will launch the Visit Chandigarh campaign for promoting the city as an important tourist spot in north India.

"Under a reviewed work plan and support from the Centre, the city will definitely add to the number of visitors. The plan gains a great significance in the context of the ongoing Incredible India campaign of the Centre. The tourism department of Chandigarh aims at creating a world class Chandigarh Tourism brand by ensuring remission of relative information online and through print and electronic media to the prospective tourists. Promotion of tourism would not only impact the economy of this region, but also create new employment opportunities," explained Puri.