Terrorist activities will hit tourism sector: Ambika

When asked about the decline in number of tourists visiting India in the wake of the blasts, she said they were compiling data and as terrorism has affected the world, India could not remain unaffected. “But this gives us a strong resolve to fight terrorism and join hands with the countries facing similar problem. I also welcome the statement of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari that terrorists are operating in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.

Badal said the tourist complex, constructed at a cost of over Rs 1.2 crore, would give a fillip to the tourism sector. “We have a number of other projects lined up, including integrated joint border checkpost and institute for hotel management,” Soni said.

Badal, who was accompanied by his cabinet entourage of Hira Singh Gabria, Bikram Singh Majithia and Gulzar Singh Ranike and BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, said they would provide land to any new project started in the area. Badal said the border residents have suffered a lot ever since Partition and later during Indo-Pak wars, but now friendship with Pakistan would prove to be a boon for tourism and trade between the two countries.

The complex, built on about 10,000 square feet with facilities for domestic as well as foreign tourists, especially from Pakistan, would help in further promoting peace between the two countries, said Soni. She added that tourism has vast potential in employment generation and the Centre would provide all the help required to establish a convention centre in Punjab.

She said Amritsar has been selected as one of the mega destinations, out of the 22 identified by the Ministry of Tourism in the country, for integrated development. She said the Union Ministry of Tourism has earmarked Rs 4,802.32 lakh during the Tenth Five Year Plan and Rs 1,983.42 in the first two years of the Eleventh Five Year Plan for Punjab. She said private-public-partnership (PPP) was the new mantra for tourism growth and the 2010 Commonwealth Games would change the face of the industry with new mega-projects coming up in Delhi and outside that would provide jobs to three lakhs youths. She said the Visitors’ Gallery at Attari border that receives about 20,000 tourists daily would be further widened.

‘Party keeping an eye on Bir’

Commenting on the political developments, Ambika Soni said the Congress high command was keeping a close eye on the statements of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson and former MLA Bir Devinder Singh. She said PPCC chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee would provide them a report and the party was not bothered about what Bir writes in his book. She also announced that the UPA government would soon make public the report related to financial and developmental schemes in Punjab and there was no discrimination with the SAD-BJP government. She said even Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal praised the Centre for economic assistance.