Govt to promote farm tourism

Chandigarh, December 17

Tourism Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar today said farm tourism would be promoted in the state so that farmers could earn extra income.

He said for this purpose, some places would be identified where tourists from India and abroad could get information about Haryanvi culture such as making jaggery, milking cows, sowing seeds, plucking fruits in orchards, flying kites, riding bullock carts and wrestling.

The minister said this after holding a review meeting of the Tourism Department and Haryana Tourism Corporation. He said the Tourism Department had decided to take this initiative to give tourists a taste of authentic Haryanavi lifestyle.

He said with this step of the present government, farmers in the state would be able to increase their income by adopting farm tourism along with farming.

Vijai Vardhan, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism Department, said till now 17 persons had been given licence for farm tourism in various districts. He said the concept of farm tourism was becoming a holiday destination for corporate groups.

Vardhan said such farmhouses were attracting film and TV serial makers for shooting. He said through farm tourism, tourists would be introduced to other famous parts of Haryanavi culture. — TNS