To promote rural tourism and create additional livelihood opportunities for farmers, the Department of Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab organised an Awareness Workshop on Farm Stay Policy 2026 at the Deputy Commissioner's Office, S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, on 23rd June 2026. The workshop witnessed the participation of over 70 participants, including farmers and various government officials from across the district.
The workshop was attended by Ms. Sonam Chaudhary, PCS, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali); Dr. Dampreet Walia, Joint Director, Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab; Sh. Maninder Saini, Superintendent, Department of Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab; and Ms. Sheetal Behl, Manager Projects andSh. Abhishek Puri, District Tourist Officer along with farmers and other stakeholders from the district.
Addressing the participants, Ms. Sonam Chaudhary, PCS, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), highlighted the vision and objectives of the Farm Stay Policy 2026 and encouraged farmers to register under the policy to benefit from the growing tourism sector. She stated that the initiative aims to diversify rural income sources while showcasing Punjab's rich culture, heritage, traditions, and agricultural lifestyle to visitors from across India and abroad.
During the workshop, farmers were briefed on the policy provisions, eligibility criteria, registration process and support mechanisms available under the policy. Special emphasis was laid on sustainable rural tourism, capacity building, promotion of local crafts, farm-based experiences, and community participation.
As part of its statewide awareness campaign, the Department had earlier organised the first Awareness Workshop on Farm Stay Policy 2026 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Rupnagar, on 12th June 2026. The ongoing series of workshops aims to encourage wider participation and facilitate the development of farm stays across Punjab.
The interactive session provided a platform for farmers to seek clarifications and engage directly with officials regarding the implementation of the policy. Farmers welcomed the new policy with open arms and expressed their eagerness to work closely with the Punjab Government to promote tourism in the state and create sustainable livelihood opportunities through farm stays and rural tourism initiatives.
The workshop concluded with an enthusiastic response from participants, reflecting the growing interest among farmers in embracing tourism as an additional source of income and contributing to the promotion of Punjab's authentic rural experiences. The workshop was presented and facilitated by the EY team.