Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 16: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the expansion and up gradation of tourism infrastructure had gained urgency in face of the inevitable need to promote high end tourism in the State.
‘Kashmir, Ladakh and many places in Jammu are designed by nature for high spending elite tourists but lack of infrastructure has hampered the realisation of true worth of this potential, he said while addressing a public meeting at the Kokernag tourist destination in South Kashmir today.
Mr Sayeed said while it was heartening that tourism flow to Kashmir had steadily grown after its revival in 2003 following long years of strife but numbers alone do not determine the true economic potential of this highly sensitive activity that also has a direct impact on environment which in the case of J&K is a primary concern.
He said the inherent strength of Kashmir had sustained it as a global brand name in tourism and handicrafts even in the worst times of its history.
‘But we have to build on these strengths an infrastructure that can compete the best in the world and attract the tourists with high spending power and respect for ecology and environment for which very strict standards will have to be enforced’ he said.
Recalling the major initiatives his government had taken for revival of tourism and expansion of its base, Mr Sayeed said ‘‘it is unfortunate the effort has not been carried forward significantly like many other initiatives of the previous coalition treating them as ‘enemy’ projects’.
He said it is time that the state focused on quality of tourism rather than just swelling numbers.
Even as the Government has conveyed no impression of changing its ways of functioning the business community must come out with a response to the new situation, he said while expressing satisfaction at some high end infrastructure projects coming up at some places.
Expressing concern at the paralysis of administration, Mufti said there is not a single area of achievement for this coalition in its nearly four years of rule. He said the political waywardness of the coalition partners was understandable as they were not bound by any common minimum program on development and political issues.
On this occasion, PDP national spokesperson Dr Sameer Kaul said it was unfortunate that the National Conference after having created a wedge between the State and rest of the country had itself struck bonds of friendship with whosoever ruled Delhi but used brutal methods to crush opposition to it at home. Youth were the worst victims of this duplicity and many generations of Kashmiris had suffered as a result, with NC itself enjoying power and luxuries he said.
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