Projects sanctioned to accomodate CWG tourists in Gurgaon

The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned two projects for camping sites at Surajkund and Dundahera which will be of great use for tourists during next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Union Minister for Tourism, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Shelja said today.

Speaking at the inauguration of the First Tourism Fair-2009 organised by the Haryana Tourism Mart in association with Haryana Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Association of Haryana at the Ambience mall here, Ms Selja said that at the camping sites large tents can be put up to accommodate the tourists during the games which will be helpful in overcoming the shortage of rooms. She said during the 10th Plan Haryana was given Rs 45.51 Crore and in the 11th Plan the Union Ministry for Tourism has so far sanctioned projects worth Rs 54.29 Crores. It includes a mega project called Panipat-Kurukshetra-Pinjore Circuit. Ms Shelja said Haryana overtook Delhi which could not avail of the grants under this scheme. She said that in Haryana, project implementation is good as far as construction of rooms for the Commonwealth Games is concerned for which the state government needs to be complemented. As per the reports, out of 6647 rooms, 4438 rooms were made available so far in Haryana and these rooms are functional.

She said this fair would present a one stop exhibition for domestic and international tourism organisations, travel and tour operators, hotels and resorts, airlines, railways and cruises, travel portals and travel writers, reservation and several other stake holders. She observed that it could prove to be an effective platform for exchange of ideas and business promotion apart from highlighting the tourist potential of the state. The Union Minister said that over the years, Haryana Tourism has earned a name in developing Highway Tourism, Recreation Tourism and Heritage Tourism and the successful launch of the concept of Farm Tourism, Adventure Tourism and Golf Tourism as well as Eco Tourism. She hoped that the Travel Mart would be permanent feature and evolve to be an annual event competing with the best in the world such as World Travel Mart.

Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Minister of Tourism O P Jain said Haryana Tourism has joined hands with the travel trade and hospitality sector and constituted Haryana Tourism Mart with the motive of promoting Haryana as a tourism destination. He said the Mart proposes to host the Gurgaon Shopping Festival in February next as the pre games event and again in October to coincide with the CommonWealth Games. This is a positive initiative to make Gurgaon a major shopping destination in addition to being the world leader in IT and ITES destination, Mr O P Jain said.

Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary Tourism Haryana, Kesni Anand Arora, said Gurgaon has come up as a major center of corporate houses and keeping in view the facilities available in and around, this city has large potential of being developed as convention and exhibition hub. The main objective of organising the Tourism Fair was to promote Gurgaon as new tourism hub and give a platform to the traders and tourists.