Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 18: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, chaired a meeting here today to discuss ways and requirements for bringing twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch on the tourist map of the State.
The meeting also discussed steps to explore tourism potential of these districts and need for identifying sites for their development as tourist destinations.
It was said that the districts have huge potential in leisure tourism, pilgrimage tourism and adventure tourism and the Tourism Department is approaching private tour operators to include places in these districts in their tour package itinerary.
The Minister was informed that the department motivates the locals to create and provide paying guest facilities to tourists, which will help to boost the local economy in these districts.
He directed the concerned to make Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of Budhal-Shopian Road, which he said would boost tourism potential of these districts. He also directed for drafting of a master plan for Pir Panchal for development of tourism in the region.
Zulfkar said that besides indentifying new sites for their development as tourist destinations, there is need to upgrade the already identified sites for developing better tourism infra in the twin districts.
Managing Director, J&K Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, informed the Minister that the Corporation will also offer a plan for development of public parks, adventure sports and other tourist attractions in these districts.
Secretary Tourism Department, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Harun Malik, ACRs of Rajouri and Poonch and CEOs of Tourism Development Authorities of Rajouri and Poonch attended the meeting.
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