In a ground-breaking move to boost the Tourism sector in the State, the Punjab Government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has unveiled the Punjab Adventure Tourism Policy 2023 and the Punjab Water Tourism Policy 2023 during the 2nd day of the 5th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2023.
The policies were unveiled by Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, and Labour Minister Ms. Anmol Gagan Maan, along with Secretary Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and the dignitaries who participated in the Tourism & Entertainment Session at the 5th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2023.
In her keynote address Anmol Gagan Maan said that Punjab Government fully recognizes the immense potential of Tourism in Punjab. The launch of the Punjab Water Tourism Policy 2023 and the Punjab Adventure Tourism Policy 2023 underscores the commitment of the State Government to furthering growth in the Tourism Sector and provide employment opportunities to the people of Punjab.
She said that to make Rangla Punjab, there is still some work to be undertaken. These new initiatives to promote Adventure Tourism and Water Tourism will go a long way in making Punjab the No. 1 destination in Tourism. The State Government invites industry to invest in Punjab.
The Tourism & Entertainment Session at the 5th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2023 witnessed a very engaging panel discussion about various measures that could be undertaken to promote Punjab as the best destination for tourism in India.
Panellists from Tourism & Entertainment industry participated in the session. The panel was moderated by Associate Director, KPMG, Mr. Anubhav Mishra.The Punjab Adventure Tourism Policy 2023 accords 2 years free usage of sites within the State to national federations engaged in adventure tourism.
The national federations are permitted to independently associate with any company dealing with adventure tourism.The Punjab Water Tourism Policy 2023 is a unique initiative of the State Government in the fact that it invites ideas and proposals from the private sector to develop tourist sites along the water bodies.
The Punjab Water Tourism Policy 2023 provides a mechanism to grant rights of usage of these water bodies for enhancing the tourism potential of these projects. The ideas and proposals will be placed before an empowered committee, headed by the Chief Minister, which will clear projects based on their potential for attracting tourism.
Inviting the industry to invest in the State, Minister for Tourism & Cultural Affairs Anmol Gagan Maan said, “The State Government stands fully in support of industry and will provide all necessary facilitation. If the industry faces any challenges, they have direct access to my office. Any hurdles will be addressed in a prompt manner.”
Emphasizing on the vast potential in entertainment sector in Punjab, Anmol Gagan Maan said that there is a strong need for development of entertainment hubs with production and post-production facilities.
Furthermore, there is need for development of training centres for skilling entertainment professionals. She also invited the investors from the entertainment sector to invest in setting up more cinema theatre screens in the State.
Highlighting the various film shooting sites in the State, Maan said, “Punjab has a rich heritage and has numerous historical forts, religious places, wetlands, and other scenic sites such as the Attari border. State Government invites the Film and Media industry to shoot at these sites in the State.”
Acknowledging the importance of the State’s music industry, she said, “Entertainment & Tourism industry play a big role – Punjab’s music industry is biggest among music industries in India.”
She also emphasized on the huge potential in the Hospitality sector in the State and said that more hotels can be established in the major tourism centres in the State such as at Amritsar.
Recognizing the untapped potential of tourism in the rural areas, she said more farm stays could be established by investors which would promote village tourism. Tourists could come and see how organic food is made available to all.
Founder President, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India Capt. Swadesh Kumar, lauded the State Government in launching the Water Tourism Policy. He highlighted the importance of Adventure Tourism in promoting local communities as it offers an opportunity to tourists to immerse themselves in the local communities.
Managing Director, Wonderla Arun K Chittilappilly emphasized the need for strict implementation of safety guidelines for Adventure Sports and Amusement Parks.Managing Director, Jass Records, Jasvirpal Singh said there was an urgent need of proper education and training institutes for skilling of Post production technicians.
He highlighted the importance of support from the State Government in the form of subsidies to promote the industry.Anchor and Actor Satinder Satti lauded the State Government’s initiatives to promote tourism in Punjab.
She said the State Government may undertake measures to support the investors looking to invest in the entertainment sector in the State. She suggested that a Punjab Film Board can be established in Mumbai to establish connect between Pollywood and Bollywood as this would significantly boost the Entertainment sector in the State and provide rich avenues for employment.
Founder, Citrus Country Farm Stay Harkirat Ahluwalia said that Eco Tourism has immense potential in the State. It improves the economy and provides additional income to farmers.
VP Corporate Affairs, IHCL Dinesh Chadha emphasized that Punjab is synonymous with hospitality. He said that IHCL has growth plans in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Ropar, and Tarn Taran.