New Delhi: Overwhelmed with the huge response it has managed from trade partners from four key cities, the Punjab Government today said that the inaugural Punjab Tourism Summit and Travel Mart, scheduled to take place from September 11 to 13 in Mohali, Punjab, would be a grand affair that would catapult the state to the centre stage of Indian tourism.
The four-city roadshow for the inaugural Punjab Tourism Summit and Travel Mart culminated here today (Aug 26) after successful editions in Jaipur (Aug 23), Mumbai (Aug 24), and Hyderabad (Aug 25). The roadshows were held to create awareness and anticipation for the summit by the Department of Tourism.
Bringing down the curtains on the successful road show, Ms. Anmol Gagan Mann, Punjab’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, emphasized the government’s strong commitment to boost the state’s tourism with the inaugural Punjab Tourism Summit and Travel Mart will be a milestone event.
Ms. Mann provided insights into the thriving business environment, summarizing special incentives in tourism and hospitality, while highlighting recent investment successes. She also highlighted Punjab Government’s endeavour towards positioning the state as the top destination for medical tourism in India.
“Medical tourism and cutting-edge dental facilities are set to flourish in Jalandhar, with a special emphasis on NRI dental tourism. The state’s existing vibrant dental tourism landscape is already well recognised across the diaspora. Our latest initiatives around development of water and adventure parks aim to attract a larger audience to the state. Simultaneously, the development of picturesque farm stays and cottages in rural areas rich with scenic beauty will offer a charming respite.
The iconic Katarpur pilgrimage is poised for promotion, and an innovative state tourism app is on the horizon to provide comprehensive information about the state’s varied initiatives. Ms. Mann said that the Punjab Travel Mart will serve as a platform to attract forward-thinking tourism professionals from across the nation and beyond. Foreign and domestic tour operators, DMCs, DMOs, travel trade media, travel influencers, hotel operators, B&B and farm stay owners, tourism boards, and more are expected to participate. With this dynamic convergence of stakeholders, Punjab aspires to establish itself as a premier global tourist hotspot.
Acknowledging the efforts of the government, Ms. Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, IAS Principal Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs, emphasised the significance of two key initiatives -wellness and women in tourism. Leveraging Punjab’s serene surroundings and rich cultural heritage, these two initiatives will attract wellness seekers and empower women in the tourism industry. Ms. Bhandari, “Punjab’s aspiration to become a wellness hub aligns seamlessly with its cultural heritage. Additionally, empowering women in tourism promises socio-economic growth. By fostering women’s participation and offering training and financial support, we aim to catalyze positive change.”
Punjab’s initiatives include Invest Punjab, a comprehensive investment promotion office, and fiscal incentives on tourism under the Industrial Policy 2022. The state’s focus areas for tourism development encompass adventure and water tourism, wellness tourism, medical tourism, and agri/eco-tourism, with an emphasis on rural home and farm stays. The synergy of these initiatives is expected to enrich the quality of life and livelihood of Punjab’s residents while elevating its stature in the global tourism landscape.
