Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 19: Governor N N Vohra, who is Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Boards, reviewed various important matters relating to tourist arrivals in the State and the two pilgrimages in a meeting held here today, involving the Chief Executive Officers of the two Shrine Boards, P. K. Tripathi and A.K. Sahu, respectively.
In so far as tourist arrivals is concerned, the Governor was informed that as of 18th March 2016, 2,16,252 tourists had arrived by road/train/air in the State of whom 5,524 were foreigners. The Governor observed that the pace of tourist arrivals in the past two months had been quite satisfactory, keeping in view that in the corresponding period in the past year there were 82,376 tourist arrivals, including 4,494 foreigners.
In this context, it is to be recalled that the Governor has specially enjoined upon Parvez Dewan, Advisor to Governor, who has the Tourism Department in his charge, to regularly monitor all matters relating to the functioning of this Department and ensure that the varied difficulties, as may be faced by the tourism and travel trade, should be resolved on a time bound basis.
Regarding Shri Amarnathji Yatra, it was noted that the Advance Registration of the Yatris, which commenced on 29th February, 2016, is proceeding satisfactorily and, till 18th March, over 60,000 pilgrims had secured Advance Registration by both the routes. It was noted that the total registration this year, in the first 17 days since registration commenced, is far ahead of the figure in 2015 which stood at 37,536.
It was also noted that the Advance Registration via the Pahalgam route is slightly higher than by the Baltal route and that this conforms to the traditional pattern.
Regarding the round the year Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji Yatra, the Governor was informed that this year the pace of this pilgrimage is about the same as in 2015. As upto 18th March this year 9,74,927 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the Shrine as against 9,43,089 in the corresponding period in 2015.
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