Plan to promote river, leisure tourism in Punjab

Chandigarh, Nov 12 (UNI) Tourism specialist of United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Robert Clevendon, today apprised Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal about the plan to promote river and leisure tourism in the state.

The Punjab Government has engaged the services of Mr Clevendon for development of Ropar, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Ranjit Sagar Dam (Shahpur Kandi) and Hari-Ke-Pattan as 'leisure tourism' places as rivers of Sutlej and Beas were passing through these districts.

Various tourism projects were reviewed at the meeting between Mr Badal and Mr Clevendon.

The Chief Minister desired to develop Punjab as the most preferred tourist destination within the next three years as the state has tremendous untapped tourism potential.

He asked Mr Clevendon to also explore the possibility of developing Ranjit Sagar dam as a tourist spot. The Chief Minister discussed ways and means to promote water sports at these sites.

Mr Badal informed Mr Clevendon that the State Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department was all set to develop 'pilgrimage and heritage tourism' in the state in a big way.

Mr Clevendon assured the Chief Minister that he would send a team of six experts in different fields in tourism to Punjab in order to implement the plan in a phased manner.

He also said that his team would prepare a master plan on short as well as long term basis. He would again discuss the modalities of the proposed tourism plan with Mr Badal during the next week after visiting different tourist destinations across the state.

Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting, included, Tourism Minister Hira Singh Gabrian and Chief Secretary R I Singh.

UNI