Chandigarh, September 21st : World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on 27 September. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. This year, the Chandigarh Administration has decided to celebrate the World Tourism Day by organizing a week long celebrations to highlight the importance of tourism. Magnificent Preparations for World Tourism week have been planned by the Chandigarh Administration starting from September 25th till October 1st, 2011. The start of the World Tourism week celebrations shall be from 25th September with the Chandigarh Administration organizing second Cyclothon, a cycling event with Hero cycles as the principal sponsor which is being brought to Chandigarh by CNBC Sport 18 under the aegis of Cycling Federation of India. The event comprises multiple cycling races–Elite ride, Green ride and junior ride. The highlight of the event will be a 60 km National Elite Race that will see the nation’s top cyclists competing for prize money upto Rs 5 lacs.
On 27th September, Morning Raga- Indian Classical and Fusion Music by Shri. Subhash Ghosh will be held at 6 am at Sukhna Lake followed by “Heritage Tourism Walk” at 7 am from the Open Hand Monument to Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector-10.In the evening Fun and Entertainment Programme shall be held everyday at Sukhna Lake from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm alongwith a South Indian Food festival. On 28th September, there will be a Poster Competition on Tourism by students in Phase III, Rock Garden.
The other added attractions of the World Tourism week would be festival of street plays by three theatre groups namely Samvaad Theatre, Roopak Kala & Welfare Society and Welcome group which will present street plays titled Chakkarview, Aakhir Kyu and Dulha Bikta hai respectively. These groups will stage their street plays during the World Tourism week celebrations on September 26th, 28th and 29th at Sukhna Lake, Plaza Sector 17, Lake Sector 42.Whereas on 29th Sept, Tourism quiz will be held at 10am at Govt. Museum, Sector 10, open for students of senior classes.
To make the Sukhna Lake a very happening place during the week long celebrations, other tourism activities such as tattoo painting, sketching, portrait making etc will be done by the students of Chandigarh College of Arts .In addition, competitions like singing, dancing, rock band live performances and other cultural evenings will also be held at Sukhna Lake during the week long celebrations.
The Week long Celebrations will be commemorated with two gala musical night performances by Shipra Estates as platinum sponsors at Plaza, Sector 17. Pakistan’s heart throbbing classical fusion band RagaBoyz will woo the audiences on 1st October at the Plaza. And at the same venue on 30th September, current craze Punjabi singer Sherry Maan shall pep up the evening. CITCO”s Hotel would be offering special discount on food and beverages alongwith other private hotels and Restaurants in the city during the World Tourism Week celebrations.