Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 9: Secretary, Tourism, Culture, Youth Services& Sports, Sarmad Hafeez chaired a maiden review meeting of the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu.
Earlier, Secretary Tourism & Culture visited Bagh-e-Bahu, and inspected the prestigious project “Musical Water Fountain with Light & Sound Show” being taken up under PMDP by the Directorate at an approved cost of Rs.10 crore.
Director Tourism, Raj Kumar Katoch, apprised him about the execution status of the project which in itself shall be a unique facility from tourism point of view for the J&K UT. While giving timeline for its completion, the Secretary directed for completion of the said project within seven weeks.
The Director Tourism explained the steps being initiated by the Directorate for its revival of the trade in view of the ongoing pandemic and the need to widen its horizon to the rural areas for focusing on the preservation of socio-cultural heritage and preservation of values and traditions.
The Tourism Secretary took a sector wise review of Planning, Publicity, Registration, Establishment, Adventure, Estates, M&W Wing and stressed on capacity building of available manpower of the functionaries of the Department.
Meanwhile, the Secretary Tourism & Culture also interacted with the representatives of different organizations/ Stakeholders and deliberated upon various issues being faced by the tourism sector in view of the prevailing COVID pandemic. The Stakeholders while reiterating their demand for sector wise compensation/relaxations however, strongly extended their commitment towards the cause of the tourism development in Jammu Division of J&K UT. While addressing the Travel Trade Fraternity Members, Secretary Tourism said that though, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the tourism sector equally as compared to other sectors, but all out efforts are being made to regain its momentum so that the vast untapped tourism potential of the J&K UT could be explored for socio-economic development while adopting the COVID-19 SOPs side by side.
He further added that as the tourism stakeholders have suffered hugely due to COVID pandemic and the Department appreciates their concerns in this regard and considered their genuine demands at an appropriate level. He stressed the need for better and close coordination between the Department and the stakeholders by which the sector would be taken out of this situation. He further added that Tourism is a lifeline to millions, especially in the developing world. Opening the world up to tourism again will save jobs, protect livelihoods and enable our sector to resume its vital role in driving sustainable development.
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