Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: J&K Tourism has witnessed unprecedented growth in the recent past and the Department is taking all efforts that the sector continues to grow. The UT administration under the able guidance of the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha is making appropriate Policy interventions to create investment opportunities in J&K forcreating new infrastructure facilities and upgrade the existing ones through Private Participation for overall growth of the Tourism sector to generate more employment opportunities.
To achieve the objective, J&K Tourism department is all geared up to upscale its activities to promote tourism and open up new verticals for which active participation and engagements between the stake holders from UT of J&K and other states/UTsshall be organized on regular basis in all the regions of the country.
J&K Tourism Department headed by Secretary Tourism Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, carried forward the promotional campaign in the southern states of Karnatka and Tamil Nadu regarding the diverse tourism products, the newly launched 300 destinations including- off beat destinations, tracking routes, religious circuits, arts and crafts, the new initiatives and the Policies of the UT administration, particularly regarding the investment opportunities and the Investible projects.
Amarjeet Singh, Special Secretary Tourism, J&K participated in 18th Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA) at Bengaluru, as part of the delegation of Ministry of Tourism, led by Tourism Minister, Govt of India, G Kishan Reddy. HICSA is an annual event that brings together a diverse range of participants from the hospitality, real estate, and investment industries including hotel owners, operators, investors, financiers, developers, architects, consultants, and other professionals from South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States to promote the development of new business opportunities and investment partnerships.
On the sidelines of the main summit, round table meetings were held by the Delegation with the Industry partners to understand the challenges faced by them. Quoting the Tourist Numbers, the Minister appreciated the unprecedented growth of Tourism Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. Through individual networking sessions, potential investors were informed about the Policy Initiatives and Investment opportunities in view of the Industry status accorded to the Tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the exponential growth in Tourism Sector in the UT.
Networking sessions with the stakeholders in Tourism and Hospitality Sector were conducted in state of Tamil Nadu as well. The visiting officer reached out to the travel partners at Highland Accord resort in Ooty and interacted with the delegation led by President Nilgiri Hotel and Restaurant association and others regarding the best responsible Tourism practices in the Nilgiri District, where a complete ban on use of polythene, plastic water bottles and other kind of single use plastic has been successfully implemented. Hotels are not providing any plastic bottles, and instead Filtered RO water is being used in glass bottles. Demand of drinking water at public/tourist places is being met through Water ATMs. Civil society members and people in Travel business are collectively engaged in enforcement to promote responsible Tourism practices for the sustainability of Tourism Industry in Nilgiris
Another networking event was held at Coimbatore where the Travel bodies led by the President, Travel Agents Association of Coimbatore K. Bharathi, immediate past president, B. Selvaraju, and others participated. A presentation was made showcasing the Tourism potential of UT of Jammu and Kashmir, and the travel trade fraternity requested to motivate the tourists to visit the newly launched off beat destinations which are equally beautiful and serene.Participants were also informed about the Homestay Policy, Film Policy -2021,and the Industrystatus accorded to the Tourism Sector in J&K UT which makes investments made in the sector eligible for incentives as per Industrial Policy. The trade members have shown keen interest in the investment opportunities in the UT.
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