Chandigarh, June 20: The Tourism Department is set to get a boost with the government earmarking Rs 5 crore for 2017-18 with an aim to creating a brand image for the state. Besides promoting major tourist destination, the department will be making a special effort on identification, listing and promotion of lesser known, but historically or culturally important sites.
The department has been sanctioned Rs 26 crore for the preservation and promotion of Qila Mubarak in Patiala and Bathinda. State-of-the-art tourist facilities will be provided at the museum in both cities.
The Budget has made a special provision of Rs 7 crore for organising heritage festivals during the current financial year. The government has underlined its vision to generate employment and business opportunities in tourism projects. There is also a provision of Rs 3 crore for showcasing cultural history and beauty of the Bein river near Sultanpur Lodhi.
In the last year’s Budget, the then Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa had allocated Rs 50 crore for celebrating the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, besides Rs 140 crore under the CM’s pilgrimage scheme.
APS Chatha, president, Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHARA), said: “I cannot comment on what we should be expecting. The minister had not given me an appointment to listen to our point of view. We are hoping that something concrete happens on ground.”
News Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com
