Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, June 18: Former Union Health Minister and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that Government is keen on exploring the tourism potential of the State and bringing more and more areas on the tourist map of the State.
While inaugurating a Tourism-cum-Culture Festival in the premises of Govt Higher Secondary School Boys here today, Mr Azad said the State Government is focusing on the development of Bhaderwah in big way. A massive tourism development in the area will not only give boost to the economy of the area and State but will also help immensely in transforming socio-economic condition of the people of the region by creating job opportunities for the local youth.
“With tourist infrastructure zooming up in the district and State, Bhaderwah town in Doda district is all set to become a favourite destination of tourists both local and foreigners. We want to showcase Bhaderwah and its various tourist destinations in Bhaderwah to attract foreign and domestic tourists,” Mr Azad said.
The top Congress leader, who hails from this area said, the massive tourism development in the area will not only give boost to economy of the area and the State but will also help immensely in transforming socio-economic condition of the people of the region by creating job opportunities for the unemployed youth. He said the tourism industry being the back bone of the State economy is the cutting edge of the socio-economic status of all the three regions of the State. This industry even during the period of turmoil in the State has yielded record breaking results on revival and the inflow of tourists has increased manifold in entire Doda- Kishtwar region.
He said Bhaderwah has marched towards tremendous progress and prosperity during last several years thus occupying a significant place in the national tourist map but there is still a lot to be done in this field. The recent earthquake has also caused damaged to the tourist infrastructure here and the State Government is trying its best to reconstruct it.
Recognizing the need to do more to convert the entire Chenab Valley into a self-contained tourism destination having the facilities of leisure, adventure and pilgrim tourism, Mr Azad said if given an opportunity by the people, Congress Government will have a master plan formulated for the entire Chenab Valley in the context of tourism development and get it implemented in time bound manner.
Mr Azad said, “we can have best summer golfing destination at Lal Draman in Doda district and at the same time white water rafting, trekking and pilgrim tourism facilities can be created at Kishtwar. He recalled that once Kishtwar used to be a hot trekking destination for foreigners due to its mesmerizing and world renowned treks found in Marwah, Wadwan and Padder areas.
The former Union Minister urged upon the people to take maximum benefit from various schemes initiated by the Government for raising their living standard. He also praised the people of the region to maintain age old traditions of communal harmony and brotherhood between different sections of the society. He said during recently concluded elections some parties tried to damage the communal harmony but their such attempts will not be tolerated.
He was accompanied by senior Congress leaders and Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Minister for PHE, I&FC Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for R&B Abdul Majid Wani, MLA Bhaderwah Sharief Niaz, MLC Naresh Gupta, MLC Sham Lal Bhagat, MLA Ramban, MLA Chenani, PCC secretary Salman Nizami and others.
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