Chandigarh, Oct 31 (IANS): To exploit the tourism potential of sub-mountain regions of Shivalik hills along its border with Himachal Pradesh, the Punjab government Friday announced the setting up of the Shivalik (Dhauladhar) Tourism Development Board.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal will head the board.

"There is ample scope for development of religious-cultural tourism sites into live spaces in the state. Punjab will not only attract tourists from within the country and abroad but also attract investors and hence increase revenue and economic growth," a state government spokesman said here.

The area of the Shivalik hills falls in Punjab's districts of SAS Nagar (Mohali), Rupnagar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot and Gurdaspur.

The spokesman said that Badal had recently visited the Pong Dam and other tourist areas in Shivalik foothills in Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts to activate tourism activities in these areas.