Early Times Report SRINAGAR, Oct 4: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said he is confident that tourist footfall of the winters would match that of the summers if the facilities are upgraded to the level of international standards. "Kashmir valley is ideally suited for high-end holiday travel. I am confident that tourist footfall of winters will match summers if the existing facilities are upgraded to the level of international standards," Sayeed said. The Chief Minister was chairing a high-level meeting at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir. Describing high-end resorts as a catalyst for driving niche tourists to the Valley s best known winter destinations, Sayeed asked the Chief Secretary to speed up finalization of the Gulmarg s Master Plan so that the resort is developed with an international flavour. "Once the Master Plan is finalized, it will enable us to conceive plans for starting wide ranging activities to make Gulmarg high-end," Sayeed said. The Chief Minister was informed by Secretary Tourism that all modalities and procedural requirements have been finalized and the revised Master Plan is expected to be approved in the next Cabinet meeting. Sayeed, during his earlier visit to the resort, had ordered establishment of Gulmarg Club that offers multifarious facilities for high-spending travellers, on the pattern of Pahalgam Club and Convention Centre, which he inaugurated at south Kashmir resort a couple of days ago, an official spokesman said here. He stressed on developing cycling tracks for paddlers, which is a very popular activity in European tourist destinations. Sayeed also issued directions for ensuring uninterrupted water and power supply availability in the resort. On the issue of littering and garbage disposal, the Chief Minister was informed that a mechanism has been put in place at Patnitop, Pahalgam and Gulmarg, which receive a large number of tourists, so that these resorts are kept clean and professionally maintained. He also ordered launching a week-long mass awareness campaign beginning October 7 for sensitising all stakeholders connected with tourism about the significance of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in all the exotic locations falling within the jurisdictions of Tourism Development Authorities, particularly Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Patnitop. News Copied From Jammu Links News Website. Stressing upon upgrading health-care facilities to meet any medical emergency, the Chief Minister desired setting up of model hospitals with adequate manpower and equipment at all major tourist destinations, particularly at Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Patnitop, to cater to the needs of the travellers, the spokesman said. Sayeed emphasized upon setting up of more golf courses at Sonamarg, Yusmarg, Dudapathri and Jai-Bhaderwah, where natural contours most suited for developing fairways and greens are available. He stressed upon revival of Gulmarg Golf course, one of the oldest courses established in the 18th century. "We have to see why golfing as a sport has failed to take off at such a lovely place as Gulmarg," he said. |