Sir,
This has reference to the news item ‘ 2 day border mela at Suchetgarh’ DE Mar 31.
Sometime back, the people associated with tourism industry had expressed their desire to exploite tourism potential in the border areas of Jammu region. But much was not done in this matter as can be gauged from the infrastructure development in this belt. These places do not find any mention in the tourist map of the State. Neither publicity through electronic or print media is given to these places to attract tourists. The road network is in a shambles. These roads are either broken or are not wide enough to allow vehicles coming from opposite sides to cross each other at the same time. Then there are no communication facilities at these places. Local people complain of problems they encounter in absence of towers.
Besides, there are no inns, hotels or guest houses at these places to accommodate tourists. It is an admitted fact that lakhs of devotees visit Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine every years. There are many chances that these visitors could be diverted to other places. But unless proper infrastructure is created, this is not possible. No tourist would like to visit a place, if it does not have any facility there.
The Tourism Department and those associated with it should frame a policy under which the objective of converting border areas into tourist spots could be achieved.
Yours etc…
Ajeet Singh,
Reasi
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