Haryana Tourism is gearing up for the Commonwealth Games. It will not only provide about 7,000 rooms for the Games but also improve the quality of the rooms and infrastructure of the Haryana Tourism Corporation.

To augment the need for rooms, Haryana tourism department has proposed to enact a legislation for facilitating ‘Bed and Breakfast’ scheme, on a pattern similar to that of the Delhi government. This will not only enable Haryana Tourism to make more rooms available for the Commonwealth Games but also provide people with a one-time additional source of income.

Stating this, minister of state for tourism and forests, Kiran Choudhry, said the government of India has sanctioned a sum of Rs 36 crore to the Haryana Tourism in the current financial year for improvement of the tourism infrastructure in the state and amount of Rs 87 crore had been sanctioned during the last four years, which is the highest in the last 20 years.

The Bed and Breakfast scheme, evolved by the Delhi Government, involves participation of citizens. Those having properties and facilities in Delhi will lodge tourists coming from abroad and other states as paying guests within a regulated framework. While on one hand, it will help the government accommodate the large number of visitors, those playing hosts will earn by charging a suitable fee. The decision of Haryana Tourism offers an opportunity to those having suitable space and facility in the NCR to start this facility.

The Centre had demanded 10,000 rooms from Haryana Tourism in the NCR region for the Commonwealth Games. Around 7,000 are ready and the remaining will be built by 2009, she said. ?With formulation of the new tourism policy by the Haryana government, it would not be difficult for us to meet the demand for rooms and provide ample earning opportunities for the people of the state?, Choudhry added.

She said the Haryana Tourism Corporation was ready to undertake improvement of infrastructure. Out of its existing 800 rooms, 432 rooms had either been renovated or were in the process of renovation. Wayside amenities were also being modernised. Additional rooms at Bahadurgarh had already been provided and new rooms at Tilyar and Myna (Rohtak) and Sunbird (Surajkund) will soon be provided. Besides, a special drive had been launched to improve the infrastructure at Sultanpur Lake.

She said Rs 15 crore had been sanctioned for the development of the Panipat-Kurukshetra-Pinjore circuit phase-II, Rs 12 crore for IHM, Rohtak and Rs 3 crore for improvement of wayside amenities at Sohna and Sultanpur Rai. Under phase-II of the circuit, funds had also been sanctioned for such additional works as improvement of infrastructure at Quila and Gandhi Maidan, Panipat, concrete parking and meditation hall at Braham Sarovar, Kurukshetra, development of public amenities at Ban Ganga, Tirat Narkatari, installation of the Virat Rupa statue, water re-circulation plant at Kurukshetra, and development of Pinjore Gardens and the Bhima Devi at Pinjore. Apart from this, improvement of the wayside amenities at Panipat, Kurukshetra and renovation of the famous Pehowa Tirath Sthal would also be undertaken.

With a view to meet the enormous demand for manpower in the hotel industry in wake of the forthcoming Games and providing better career opportunities to the children of the state, an Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) had been started at Kurukshetra, which would provide diploma and degree in hotel management to 200 students, Choudhry said.

Another IHM would be set up at Rohtak for which Rs 12 crore had already been sanctioned by the government of India. The Centre has approved renovation of the existing Food Craft Institute at Faridabad into a full- fledged hotel management institute for imparting three-year degree course.

Choudhry said that the 23rd Surajkund Crafts Mela would be held from February 1 to 15, at Surajkund, Faridabad. Madhya Pradesh had been selected as the theme state for this year. Similarly, Egypt had shown interest to be a partner country. At the mela, craftspersons from Saarc countries and other neighbouring countries would participate in the mela. Cultural programmes were being planned through the North Zone Culture Centre, Patiala.