CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Administration in its spree of promoting the City Beautiful as a World Class Tourism destination has materialized Chandigarh Tourism Action Plan (CTAP) 2008.

The action plans discusses all the issues related to the promotion of tourism like collaboration with tour operators, providing information infrastructure and courses for the employees.

The top most priority is to promote Chandigarh as a Modern Heritage world wide and also promoting Entertainment in the city to make Chandigarh famous as a "City of Events".

In this endeavor the Administration is planning of creating a Chandigarh Pass on the pattern of the "London Pass" in order to offer a wide range of facilities at tourist spots, like Rock Garden, Museums, Theaters, etc. Theme Park/Film City would be set up quickly and popularized as a Tourist interest location.

Administration is also planning for collaborations with embassies & missions of various countries on a constant basis to boost mutually important areas of the tourism sector. Administration also looks forward to strengthen the collaboration with different Tour Operators and Membership in Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and with NGO's to promote "Responsible Tourism".

Special training courses are planned for the employees of Tourism establishments, hotels and taxi drivers for the better welcoming of guests. A world class website for Chandigarh Tourism and its regular updating will be maintained which would also enable booking of CITCO and private hotel rooms in the city online.

Pictorial and comprehensive booklets and brochures in different languages will be printed so as to boost the tourism information infrastructure. Modern, attractive and professionally fabricated sign Boards & information boards at important locations in the city would be installed to facilitate easy access to information for tourists & visitors to the city containing brief and relevant information of tourist places & other important locations of the city.

Making the city more approachable and accessible for the tourists plans are being formulated to increase the number of flights to Chandigarh and involving airlines in the promotional effort by encouraging them to offer packages for visitors in collaboration with CITCO & other hotels here. Also improving the Taxi & Auto services within the city and ensuring that overcharging doesn't take place by publicizing uniform rates, promoting pre-paid services at all prominent locations and by periodical monitoring by Police & STA. Offering Packages with Railways from nearby states.

The city will also be promoted in various sectors like Medical Tourism, Business Tourism, Cinematic Tourism, Wedding tourism and Sports Tourism. Popular concepts like Scenic Walks, cycling tours, weekend tourism would further be used for promoting Chandigarh, as a different city.

The Nightlife of the city will be boosted of by promoting of "Film-evenings" (in collaboration with the Film Circle), open air concerts and different events like the "New Year Festival". Institutes like IHM, FCI, Colleges, School, etc. would also be involved in a coordinated manner for further promoting tourism.

Administration also plans of relaxing barriers & facilitating access to architectural wonders of the city like Vidhan Sabha, Secretariat, Open Hand monument etc. and setting up an information centre in the Capitol Complex.

Tourism Department would also invite suggestions & comments for promoting tourism from Foreign missions, leading organizations, Hotel groups, airlines etc. and also analyze the requirements of different kinds of tourists and treat them separately as per their specific requirements i.e. Regional Tourists, National level tourists and International tourists.