Punjab Cabinet to soon approve Tourism Bill

22nd Sep 2010

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The Punjab Cabinet is likely to soon give its approval to the Tourism Bill of the state. The Bill will include the state’s hotel policy, by-laws for tourism services and policy for Ecotourism and Farm Tourism. At a recently held meeting, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab and Hira Singh Gabaria, Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab approved the draft Tourism Bill that will be enacted as legislation after approval.

According to a report in www.indianexpress.com, the Tourism Bill includes a comprehensive hotel policy with the objective of focusing development incentives on high quality accommodation. The policy envisages detailed by-laws and regulations for hotels and all tourism services. Detailed guidelines to establish and promote Bed and Breakfast scheme are part of the tourism master plan. The unique scheme of Farm Tourism is also part of the policy.

Badal also gave in-principle approval to the master plan to develop tourism as a well-coordinated and organised industry, besides putting Punjab on world tourism circuit. The approval was given after a detailed presentation by Hans Carl Jacobsen and Dr Harsh Varma, international consultants of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).