Kahini Chakraborty – Mumbai
Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) is planning to develop the international border tourism connecting three joint check posts along border namely, Attari (Amritsar), Hussainiwala (Firozpur) and Sadqi check post in Fazilka district. This circuit will showcase varied themes like war memorials, unique border lifestyle, remnants of Sikh and Mughal period monuments and natural sites. The board has also introduced three products related to the heritage of the state – Viraasat-e-Khalsa art museum in Anandpur Sahib, Patiala heritage walk and the Amritsar hertiage walk. The tourism department is also in the process of restructuring and restoring some of the other heritage monuments across the state.
Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, VB Kumar, IFS, executive director, PHTPB said, “It is an important milestone in the city’s efforts to preserve, protect and promote its royal heritage resources, and is vital for providing a fundamental link with the past and a foundation for future planning.”
To promote Bollywood tourism, Punjab has signed a Memorandum of Understanding through PHTPB with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The engagement output will be the structure for the Film Policy based on governance model, business model, objectives and permissions. “Punjab can form integrated hub for film shooting and film production given to the immense potential for setting up a Film Institute and Film City, and showcasing numerous historical and religious monuments located in this region, through the medium of films.”
The board is implementing various tourism-development projects. Apart from projects PHTPB is providing training and skill development facilities for traditional artisans and other stakeholders. He also informed that, “Punjab has major wetlands namely Harike, Kanjli and Keshopur which have been recognised as wetlands of international significance. Some of the rare species of migratory birds are spotted during winters as per survey conducted by a professional team from the forest department. To streamline this segment of tourism, Punjab had commissioned a study for the design of eco-tourism maps for wetlands of Punjab to facilitate better appreciation of the natural heritage.”
Elaborating on rural tourism, Kumar mentioned, “We see rural tourism in Punjab as a sustainable development driver especially for rural livelihood. PHTPB has taken the lead in identifying the Ropar Rural Tourism Cluster of four villages, based around the unique rural natural heritage of Sutlej river in Ropar wetlands Ramsar site, and duly endorsed by the two principal tourism industry associations, IATO and ADTOI.”
