World Tourism Day celebrated by ITFT
By M.M.Khanna, Travel Journalist, C/O Services India, Chandigarh
“A comprehensive and holistic plan with a long term perspective, which identifies subjects and places for sustainable tourism development in Punjab needs to be developed, rather than promoting the state in a haphazard and unplanned manner,” stated the Minister for Tourism, Punjab, Mr. Jagmohan Singh Kang , today, at a function organized by the ITFT Group.
Kang is a great believer in Tourism as a source of Prosperity & progress at Chandigarh, and spoke on the eve of the World Tourism Day, which will be celebrated on September 27.
Mr Kang said that Rs 30 crore would be spent on developing Wagha, Amritsar, Patiala and freedom fighters and pilgrimage circuits. Mr. Kang told that the freedom fighters circuit included places associated with martyrs and others who had made supreme sacrifices for the sake of the country, while the pilgrimage circuit included some of the most holy shrines. He said that fairs and festivals which reflected Punjab's fondness for gaiety and mirrored the cultural and social life of the people needed also to be promoted as important tourism products of the state. He also appreciated the efforts of the ITFT for promoting tourism in the region and hoped that it would continue giving us innovative ideas and pragmatic strategies.
The theme of the Declamation Contest which was held as part of the celebrations was the varied attractions of Punjab. Neha Oberoi who spoke on Punjabi cuisine, Joshua on Punjab's contribution to India's freedom struggle and Nurek on potential of festivals and fairs including rural sports bagged 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, which were given away by the Minister Tourism
A scintillating cultural programme of bhangra and gidda was presented by the students.
Earlier Dr Gulshan Sharma, Executive Director, ITFT Group welcomed the Minister for Tourism, S.Jagmohan Singh Kang and highlighted the importance of World Tourism Day in generating socio- economic benefits for the society.
September 26, 2006
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