In April this year, Punjab recorded a dip of 45 percent in the number of tourists coming to the state from 2019 to 2022.
Published Aug 09, 2023 | 1:54 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 09, 2023 | 1:54 PM
Punjab Tourism Summit to focus on NRIs. (iStock)
In a bid to boost the dampened tourism sector in the state, the Punjab government is all set to organise its first-ever Punjab Tourism Summit.
Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labour and Hospitality Minister Anmol Gagan Mann held a meeting with officials and informed them that NRIs would be key invitees to the summit.
The minister said that the main objective of the Punjab Tourism Summit is to promote tourism and large-scale investment in the state. She said that exhibitions, seminars and various events depicting various aspects related to the history of the state will be organised at the summit.
The Punjab Tourism Department recently participated in the India International Travel Mart (IITM) event held in Chennai. Mann said that the Punjab government is making continuous efforts to keep the priceless and unique history of the state alive and to give its information to the coming generations.
It may be noted that according to a written statement tabled by the Union Minister of Tourism G Kishan Reddy in the Rajya Sabha in April this year, Punjab recorded a dip of 45 percent in the number of tourists coming to the state from 2019 to 2022.
While the Covid crisis was highlighted as a key reason, the recent crackdown on Khalistani radicals, and targeted murders including that of singer Sidhu Moose Wala led to a further dip in NRI visitors. Punjab received the highest number of 4.84 crore domestic as well as foreign tourists in 2019.
This included 4.73 crore domestic travellers and over 11 lakh foreign visitors. But the tourist footfall plunged to 2.64 crore in 2022.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has since day one prioritised tourism revival in the state.
The government has launched a series of 19 festivals to showcase the state’s traditions, art forms, and customs under an initiative called “Rangla Punjab”. A budget of ₹65 crore has been set aside for these festivals that will be held over a period of one year.
Mann said the festivals will help revive the state’s cultural heritage. The inaugural festival of the “Rangla Punjab” series will be the “Teeyan” festival, scheduled to take place in Sangrur from 18 to 20 August. The festival is dedicated to celebrating the monsoon season and is known for its lively music, dance performances, and traditional games.
The festival series will also include the “Inquilab” festival in Khatkar Kalan district Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, paying tribute to the history of Punjab’s struggle for independence. A “Tibba Festival” will also be organised in Mansa to showcase the region’s scenic beauty and promote eco-tourism.
Mann also stressed the importance of honouring Punjab’s “Sufi” tradition and said a dedicated festival celebrating “Sufi” music and spirituality will be held in Malerkotla as part of the “Rangla Punjab” series. A first-of-its-kind “Nihang Olympics” will also be organised in Anandpur Sahib.
“The series of festivals is expected to attract tourists from across the country and contribute to the overall economic growth of the state’s tourism sector. The state will soon launch an app to help tourists find their way around the Gurudwaras in the state. It will show monuments, Gurudwara or places of interest in nearby locations”, Mann added.
