Patiala, December 13
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said 18 Punjab Tourism Development Corporation sites were available for sale to the private sector even as he announced that the state would facilitate making Punjab a tourist destination in active cooperation with private investers.

Speaking to newsmen after addressing conclave organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and INTACH on “Developing Tourism Potential in Punjab”, the Chief Minister announced that the government was also on the way to submitting documentation to UNESCO for listing the Golden Temple as a World Heritage site as well as initiating a study to conserve heritage sites in Patiala, Kapurthala and Amritsar to encourage heritage tourism in the state.

The Chief Minister said many of the PTDC complexes were doing well but the government understood that there was a need to disinvest in this sector and let private dynamics take over. He said along with disinvestment the government had a proposal to go in for a heritage hotel-cum-casino site. He said two casino proposals had been received by the government but said they would be allowed only after rules and regulations were properly framed on the issue.

He said documentation to make the Golden Temple a World Heritage site would be submitted to UNESCO in February this year following which a UNESCO team would inspect the site. He said INTACH was working on the issue.

Capt Amarinder Singh said studies had been initiated on the Quila Mubarak and there was a proposal to declare it as an endangered monument and appeal to get international funding to conserve it properly. He said the Quila and other historic monuments would also be showcased during the Heritage Festival fixed for February 14. He said it was hoped that funds would be collected for the conservation exercise through the Festival which would be made an annual feature and showcase arts and crafts of the region.

Earlier while speaking at the Conclave Punjab Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Romila Dubey disclosed that a State Tourism and Cultural Heritage Development Board had been set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to oversee tourism activities in the state. She highlighted the need for increasing the budget of the department which at Rs 1.15 crore was the lowest in the entire country.