SRINAGAR, Oct 13:
Assuring liberal funds for tapping the potential and creation of new tourist resorts, Union Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahai today said the tourism budget of Jammu and Kashmir would be enhanced to develop virgin tourist spots.
Speaking at the two-day sixth edition of convention, organised by Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) in collaboration with Department of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism, which will conclude today, Mr Sahai said the State has a huge tourism potential.
He said that the Centre has taken several measures to upgrade the tourism infrastructure and providing liberal funding for tapping the potential and creation of new tourist resorts.
The theme of the convention was ‘Domestic Tourism Impetus to National Growth’.
The aim of holding the convention was to bring all the stake holders on one platform to deliberate on the issues related to promotion of tourism, provision of security and safety to travellers and better coordination between the Centre and the States.
Mr Sahai said that the State has also been making best efforts to promote the tourism as this sector is the largest job provider and major source of boosting the economy.
This year’s indicators are very encouraging and a large number of tourists from abroad as well as domestic visited the State.
The Minister also called for holding market festivals in the State to attract more domestic tourists.
He said the corporate houses should undertake the responsibility of maintaining the tourist spots to ensure proper cleanliness for healthy atmosphere as a social obligation.
State Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said that Kashmir is the major tourist attraction for domestic as well as foreign tourists.
He said the tourist influx to the State has broken all the previous records this year and hoped that its number would increase in future.
The unexplored spots of Jammu and Ladakh regions are being developed to attract the domestic and foreign tourists.
He said the Government has developed three golf courses in Kashmir and one in Jammu to attract golfers, adding that one golf course is also coming up in Ladakh to attract the foreign tourists exclusively.
Union Secretary for Tourism Parvez Dewan presented the key note address and hailed the ADTOI for organising the convention in Kashmir.
He said that sufficient tourisms related projects were launched during the last five year plan and hoped that more projects would be sanctioned by next five year plan to give impetus to the tourism activities in the State.
Meanwhile, Mr Dewan called on Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhavan yesterday afternoon.
During their meeting, the Governor and the Union Tourism Secretary discussed a range of issues relating to the promotion of well planned tourism in Jammu and Kashmir which has vast potential for generating employment and contributing to the economic development of the State.
The Governor urged Mr Dewan to consider regular visits to the State to particularly encourage and assist initiatives which lead to the emergence of aesthetic concepts, architectural designs which are harmonious with the natural land and mountain scapes and protection of the environment. (UNI)
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