Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 28: At a time when J&K government is suffering from liabilities worth crores, the Tourism Department is spending lakhs from the state exchequer on flop tourism activities.
Official sources revealed to Early Times that the Directorate Tourism Kashmir spent lakhs on three day'Kashmiri Pandit food festival' held recently at Peerzoo Island Srinagar but the programme proved a total flop show.
"The food festival had continued for three days. This food festival had attracted only few people," said an officialof the department.
The insiders of the department also alleged that the Jehlum River Cruise from Peerzoo to Hazarat Bulbul Shah shrine was another flop show which has failed to attract the tourists.
"It was shocking that only few persons had boarded in it from the day cruise was introduced," said sources.
It is to mention here that the Tourism Department has invested huge sums on publicity of this food festival like newspaper advertisements besides, a private musical band was hired for the festival to attract people. "I wonder how this festival promotes tourism. Peerzoo restaurant was outsourced by the department and the customers were charged for the food they had in the festival which directly benefited the sales of restaurant owner," sources said.
Meanwhile tourism experts believe that Tourism Department has failed to attract the tourists despite the department spends crores for the promotional programs in and outside the state.
The data reveals that in 2008 expenditure shown for the visit of a delegation to outside country is 8, 67,660 and the visitors were then Director Tourism from Jammu, Director Tourism Kashmir and deputy Director tourism Kashmir
For their Berlin and London tours in 2008-09, the expenditure shown is Rs. 203971, Rs. 585340 and Rs. 790172 and again the visitors were the then Minister of tourism, secretary tourism and Deputy Director Tourism Kashmir.
Again in 2008-09, the expenditure shown on the visits of Director Tourism Kashmir, P.A to deputy Chief Minister, Director Tourism Jammu, is Rs 2316225, Rs 1126990 and Rs1424729 for their three visits.
The expenditure shown on the visit of the Minister and Director of Tourism Kashmir to Dubai in 2010 is Rs 898845, next time Minister and Director Tourism were accompanied by MD JKTDC and Director Tourism Kashmir to participate in Dubai global village festivals and the expenditures were Rs 1021552 and Rs 1222506. In the same year again the expenditure on their London visit was Rs 2287744.
In 2012 the expenditures shown on the visits of Minister Tourism, Directors of state Tourism, manager JKTDC,ADT Gulmarg and ADT, Leh on two occasions was Rs 10,15624,981466.
The details collected further reveal that department of tourism is yet to work on the issue of environmental degradation in Kashmir.
Sources further added that the proposals for these festivals are processed hurriedly to benefit blue eyed ones. Adding that, the sole motive of these flop festivals is to pass bills not to promote tourism on ground.
Insiders in the department said that there are various bills pending for the different tourism activities held last year which had gained popularity globally, while as holding new unplanned events get hefty sums and hurried approval.
Sources said that instead of continuing with those successful events, the department is trying new uncertain initiatives," they said. |
