Project Info

The Tourism Department of the State of Punjab in India requested the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to prepare a Tourism Development Master Plan to guide tourism development in Punjab for the next 15 years. The UNWTO assembled a multi-disciplinary team comprised of a tourism planner, resort planner, infrastructure planner, heritage specialist, environment specialist to prepare the Master Plan.

TAM principal Michael V. Tomeldan was commissioned by UNWTO as tourism development planner and resort planner for the project. There were four tourism development sites identified for which concept plans were formulated. Tomeldan prepared tourism development plans for the four sites to demonstrate correct planning and design principles for sustainable tourism developments. The services provided and their location in Punjab are as follows:
• Concept Plans for resorts, hotels, a golf course, a marina, a sports center, a wellness center, and a convention facility for the 227-hectare Bhakra-Beas Management Bureau (BBMB) site in the Nangal, Rupnagar District (See Plan);
• Concept Plans for a tourist information center, interpretation center, boutique hotel, and other heritage sites in Patiala City;
• Concept Plans for the conversion of the Durbar Hall into a boutique hotel, reception hall and museum/galleries in Kapurthala,. Concept plans were also prepared for the conversion of the Baggi Khana into a shopping center and the Baradari into a café. Other proposals included conservation of heritage sites and the rationalization of movement systems in the tourism development area.
• Concept Plans for the Sultanpur Lodhi town as the birthplace of Sikhism in the State of Punjab. Proposals included the restoration of the old Qila Sarai (fort) and the upgrading of specific heritage sites.