Chandigarh, The Haryana government is working to make the state an attractive destination for tourists from India and abroad through new technology, better facilities and local participation, Heritage and Tourism Minister Dr Arvind Kumar Sharma said on Sunday.
Haryana’s heritage is ancient, but its approach to tourism is modern, the minister said. In line with this vision, the state government’s new message for the tourists is ‘’Ghooman Aao, Haryana Dekho”, he said.
Haryana is moving beyond traditional highway tourism to promote heritage, spiritual and pilgrimage, eco, adventure, rural and farm tourism, homestays, golf, MICE and cultural tourism. For this purpose, 20 tourism hubs and destination areas have been identified in the state, Sharma said. Therefore, the government is focusing on connecting tourism not just with hotels and tourism complexes, but also with local people, farmers, artisans, guides, taxi operators, restaurants and small businesses, he said.
Sharma said the Haryana government is working to give the state’s tourism a new identity by bringing together the heritage of the ‘Mahabharata’ and the ‘Gita’ in Kurukshetra, the historic gardens of Pinjore, the rich craft tradition of Surajkund, the hills of Morni, the historical heritage of Narnaul-Mahendragarh and the Haryanvi culture of its villages. Work is also underway to explore the possibility of developing Surajkund as a cultural centre that remains active throughout the year, he said. On the occasion of World Tourism Day on Sunday, Sharma said the state government is working to ensure that tourists do not merely pass through Haryana, but stay, explore the state, experience its culture and heritage closely, and return with such memorable experiences that they are eager to visit the state again.
