The Union Tourism Minister, Subodh Kant Sahai addressing the Cinematic Tourism Conclave.

The conclave was jointly organized by the Department of Tourism, Chandigarh Administration and Northern India Management Association. The conclave was also attended by Tourism Minister of Punjab, alongwith K.K.Sharma Adviser to the Administrator UT Chandigarh, Ram Niwas, Home Secretary UT, Geetika Kalha, Principal Secretary Tourism, Punjab, Dhanpat Singh, Principal Secretary Tourism, Haryana and Managing Directors of State Tourism Corporations of Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and other prominent personalities of Tourism fraternity and Punjabi Cinema.

Mr Sahai also felicitated the winners of excellence honours in the various spheres of tourism like Innovative Travel Agent , Innovative Tour Operator, Innovative Tourist Transporter, Innovative Restaurant, Innovative Tourism Photographer, Innovative Tourist Shop, Creative Travel Writer, Creative Interior Designer, Creative Cultural Event, Creative Theatre Group, Innovative Cinematic Tourism, Innovative Baker & Confectioner, Innovative Medical Tourism, Innovative Golf Tourism Services, Innovative Hospitality Institute, Innovative Tourism & Aviation Institute.

Applauding the efforts of Chandigarh Administration to promote Chandigarh as a cinematic Tourist destination in the region the Minister also highlighted the importance of inbound tourism to increase the foreign exchange earnings and to have mega Tourism projects under public-private partnership so that holding tourists becomes more important than getting tourists into the country and places like Chandigarh which are known for its architecture tourism world over. He also emphasized the need to organize such regional conclaves in the different zones of the country to synergies the efforts being made by the State Governments and the private players connected with the Film and small screen industry.