DW BUREAU / Chandigarh/ New Delhi

Punjab is rapidly transforming into a farm tourism hub across the country as the Farm Tourism Policy has been reshaping the tourism in the state, said S. Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab here on Wednesday.

Addressing the Punjab Day celebrations at the India International Trade Fair (IITF), 2024 organised at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, S. Tarunpreet Singh Sond highlighted the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government's initiatives to promote tourism and significant steps taken for the overall development to make the state "Rangla Punjab".

He said that Punjab Government has been making concerted efforts to develop farm, rural and agro-tourism at a large scale. As a result of these efforts, the village Hansali in the Fatehgarh Sahib district was awarded the title of Best Village of India in September this year.

He said that farm tourism has been proving beneficial in strengthening the local economy and increasing farmers' income, thereby creating new opportunities for tourism.

Sharing achievements, S. Sond said that "Invest Punjab" portal ranked first among 28 states. The Punjab state has approximately 58,000 registered MSMEs, which is also highest in the country. Besides promoting religious and farm tourism, he said that Punjab Government is mulling to set up a film city to tap the entertainment potential of the state as the state has a lot to offer geographically, culturally and historically, as it is home to many sacred sites, martyrs' villages, water bodies and untouched tourist destinations.

To further boost tourism in the state, the Punjab Government has also launched the Water & Adventure Tourism Policy 2023, which aims to promote river rafting, boating, water sports and other water-based tourism activities, he added.

The Cabinet Minister S. Sond, along with Secretary Tourism and Culture Affairs Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi and Director Ms Amrit Singh, visited the Punjab Pavilion, where stalls by various departments and institutes including Punjab Tourism, Markfed, Verka, PSIEC-Invest Punjab, PUDA, PEDA, PIDB, PSAMB, Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana etc have been set up to showcase the state's rich culture, heritage, industrial growth, agricultural innovations and handicraft as well as related products and traditional handicrafts and

delectable cuisine.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Minister also inaugurated the cultural evening, the renowned singer Lakhwinder Wadali captivated the audience with his soulful Sufi music, delivering a mesmerising performance that left everyone enchanted.

Congratulating the team of the Tourism department for showcasing the best of Punjab's tourism and rich culture and heritage during IITF, he also invited the hotel and other industries to invest in Punjab to experience the warm hospitality of the state.

(editor@dailyworld.in)