Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 27: Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir has said that launching of ‘777 days of the Indian Himalayas’, a new campaign to enhance the awareness on the tourism potential of the Himalayas globally is a good step by the Centre, adding that the initiative will prove advantageous in promoting the adventure tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, as State is an important stretch of western Himalayas that traverse through the entire State.
Addressing a grand function organized to celebrate the World Tourism Day here today, the Tourism Minister said that the campaign would have a dual objective- to attract more international tourists to India during the lean summer season and to remind the world that 73 % of the Himalayan region exists in India. He said the campaign will not only promote the tourism potential of Himalayan States, but also attract millions of tourists from across the globe by the natural and scenic beauty of the Himalayas. He said the initiative would go a long way in changing the socio-economic conditions of Himalayan States, including Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister said that J&K can be divided into three regions viz Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and all these regions exhibit different faces of the Himalayan eco-system. “J&K is well known World over for its beauty and hospitality. Mesmerizing beauty of the State is un-paralleled in the world and it offers the tourists everything they desire “, the Minister maintained.
Mir said that Kashmir is not only known for its house boats, an exclusive work of art, the famous Dal Lake and Mughal Gardens but it also offers finest ski destination, rafting and paradise for trekkers and many more.
Mir said Ladakh known as adventure capital of the Country is also known as the moon land, shares a lot in common with Tibet, adding that monasteries of Ladakh have beautiful mural painting and are a treasure of cultural artifacts.
Highlighting the importance of Jammu region, the Tourism Minister said that this part of the State is worldwide famous for its religious pilgrimage sites like, ancient revered shrines of Mata Vaishno Devi, Shiv Khori, Sudh Mahadev. The border tourism and wet land of Gharana in R.S.Pura have also great significance and attract tourists. Natural beauty of destinations like Patnitop, Mansar, Bhaderwah and Mantalai also attract the tourists.
The Tourism Minister said that the campaign of Incredible Indian Hamalaya would indeed be incomplete without the participation of J&K and asserted that the State would participate in this campaign with resources we have to project our strengths before the world at large. He said that it is noteworthy that J&K has passed through a period of turmoil for the last 20 years and now the tourism is fast reviving. He assured that State Government would make all efforts to make this campaign successful.
On the occasion the J&K Tourism Department gave a power point presentation showing distinct tourism potential of the State besides steps taken to upgrade tourist related infrastructure and development of new destinations.
Follow our WhatsApp channel