BATHINDA:  Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday said after the setting up of Rs.10 crore State Institute of Hotel Management (SIHM) in Bathinda, the state would soon emerge as a pioneer state in the hotel management, tourism and civil aviation sector.

Speaking on the occasion after laying the foundation stone of SIHM, Badal said that concerted efforts of SAD-BJP Government, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has sanctioned this prestigious institute to impart training to our youth in the hotel management and catering technology. 

The Chief Minster said that the state government would accord top priority to training our youth for employment in various spheres, like hotel management, civil aviation, Information Technology etc.  The government has also laid emphasis on short-term skill training for our youth in the private security sector.  He said that Skill and job-oriented professional education was the need of the hour.

Badal informed the institute would follow norms prescribed by the National Council for Hotel Management.  It has been estimated that the hotel industry in Punjab and neighboring states would absorb over 15000 trained personnel between 2007 and 2010, said Badal.

Speaking on the occasion, President SAD & member Parliament Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the upcoming Bathinda Refinery and the International Cricket Stadium would certainly give a fillip to the hotel industry in the region. This prestigious institute would further boost the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in the region.

Sukhbir Singh Badal also said that after the setting up of the Bathinda refinery, Bathinda would soon emerge as the petro chemical hub in the North India. He said that the refinery would be later on developed as a mega refinery thereby its existing capacity 9 lac to 18 lac.

Badal said that L.N. Mittal had already given indication to put in heavy investment to the tune of Rs. 35,000 crors to 40,000 crores to enhance its capacity.

In his address Tourism Miniter Hira Singh Gabbaria said that the state government had embarked upon an ambitious programme to develop tourism sector on a large scale keeping in view its vast potential in the river tourism.

He also said that the tourism department was also considering developing few projects in the border areas to boost the tourism prospects in the state.