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| Mufti Calls for Harnessing Tourism Potential of J&K | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 21: Terming tourism as the backbone of state's economy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today called for harnessing its potential so that more visitors are attracted.
Tourism was one of the most rapidly-growing sectors in the world and state would provide greater accessibility to new destinations and create high-end infrastructure at existing ones so that a new class of visitors is attracted to state, Mufti said while reviewing the functioning of various Kashmir based Tourism Development Authorities in Jammu.
While unveiling his strategy for the next six years for increasing footfall of visitors to the state from other parts of the country and abroad, Mufti took a series of decisions which included laying of golf courses at Sonamarg and Yusmarg.
"Commencement of work on Ashmuqam Cable Car Project and Jammu Ropeway by removing bottlenecks, preparation of feasibility report of Cable Car Project at Yusmarg and outsourcing accommodation and sanitation in respect of all Tourism Development Authorities of the State" Mufti said.
Mufti issued immediate instructions to CEOs of Gulmarg and Pahalgam Tourism Development Authorities to take over administrative control of their respective golf courses.
Describing accessibility as the catchword for exploiting the rich potential of leisure, adventure, pilgrim and heritage tourism in the State, the Mufti said aggressive marketing was the need of the hour at the national and international levels to promote J&K as an ideal tourist destination.
"Our economy will improve if we succeed in attracting high-end travelers who have greater spending power which will percolate to the prime stakeholders who are the people of the State," he said.
Laying emphasis on keeping the health resorts neat and clean and ensuring regular power and water supply in the jurisdictions of all Development Authorities, the Chief Minister called for adopting the Ring-and-Cluster Approach in construction of tourist accommodation at all the resorts without disturbing the Bowls and the surrounding environment.
"We will talk to the Forest Department for a more coordinated effort in increasing the carrying capacity at these resorts," he said.
Mufti also issued immediate directions to major Tourism Development Authorities for procuring garbage dumpers to address the issue of piling of waste within the resort bowls for its proper scientific disposal.
Expressing concern over establishment of tourist reception centre even at places where flow of tourists is very low, the Chief Minister asked all CEOs to concentrate on focusing and developing a "Single Destination Concept" in their Development Authorities.
While putting emphasis on making tourism inclusive by involving villagers living within the notified areas of TDAs as equal partners in promotion of tourism, the Chief Minister issued directions for engaging a top architect who will give the concept of a model guest house across all TDAs for replication.
He also directed the Commissioner, Secretary, Tourism, to immediately flag the issue of laying of golf courses at Sonamarg and Yusmarg resorts, keeping in view the ideal topography and landscape available at both the resorts.
The Chief Minister asked the Commissioner, Secretary Tourism to provide a dedicated uninterrupted power supply to the Pahalgam resort by de-linking it from the main grid so that people visiting the place are not deprived from this basic necessity.
"This will also facilitate the pilgrims who visit the place during the Amarnath Yatra," he said.
For Verinag, the Chief Minister passed instructions for developing a garden park and identification of land for establishment of an amusement park in the vicinity of the resort. |
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