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| UNIQUE WELLNESS TOURISM INITIATIVE NEEDED | | |
S. M. Sahni KAS (Retd.), ARVIND KOTWAL KAS ( Retd.)
Tourism sector has been badly affected due to COVID-19 Pandemic since march 20 not only in other parts of Incredible India, but in J&K also which is the backbone of tourism industry of the nation since preparation days. The destinations having world class infrastructure are locked and resorts having beautiful natural environment, pilgrims destinations with sufficient built up accommodation, Adventure tourism meadows, tracks with cool breeze away from the Scorching heat of plains are the best places in lower Himalayas -shivaliks for quarantine centres or wellness resorts.
The department of tourism in collaboration with private sector of Hospitality industry may take initiative for the use of unutilised infrastructure at various tourist destinations/resorts under the name and style of wellness tourism, keeping in view of the prevailing situation due to Covid-19.
This will not only start the tourism activities in the region but will be a relief to the travellers-suspects of Covid-19 besides instead of home quarantine it will be resort quarantine by the individual families with limited members. Special packages may be framed and offered to the people who are interested to go out of their congested cities, towns, Mohalla’s having fear of the pandemic.
The snowclad mountains around the resorts, freshgreen meadows, fresh air with scenic beauty, ice cold springs, small walking tracks, organic food, pure herbs can reduce the stress level and increase the immunity to overpower the virus infection of any type.
This will reduce the number of positive cases and even can cure the suspects. The government may look into this aspect to start the wellness tourism in the region with proper SOP-Policy which is the only way to restart the tourism activities at the destinations/resorts to be identified for the purposes such as :- Patnitop, sanasar, Mantalai, Bani, Sarthat, Bhaderwah Chinta jai etc,and in the complexes of other districts with strict guidelines and facilities be provided by the govt.
1. Special packages for one week stay, two weeks stay needs to be framed covering all kind of travellers-suspects.
2. District wise resorts/complex quarantine center may be offered to the travellers.
3. Medical care centres with required basic infrastructure and staff needs to be provided by the Health Department with ambulance service.
4. Sanitation arrangements through the concerned nearby agencies (ULB'S) Development Authority or Panchayat needs to be put in place with proper solid & liquid wastes management systems.
5. Self cooking arrangements/facilities or an attendant with complete medical check up needs to be made available by the host industry on fixed per day charges.
6. Centralised mess may also be provided as per the menu prescribed by the experts of the wellness centres.(Dieticians).
7. Organic food items, local herbs, grocery, agro, horticulture, poultry, diary items needs to be made
available in the complex.
8. Dependable transport system needs to be made availablethrough tour-travel operators, Taxi operators with fixed charges as per KMs-chart approved by the authorities.
9. Communication facilities such as mobile network, wifi should be provided for the visitors/guests.
10. Yoga instructors for mediation & yoga classes can be added facility for the wellness tourism.
11. Other than yoga & meditation the resorts can also make arrangements by providing the tourists access to digital platforms for holistic wellness for harmonious balance of mind, body & soul with focus on mental & emotional well being nutritional guidance and healing stress management by counselling experts.
12. No gatherings or visit of the neighbourhood villagers should be allowed except for the service providers with proper medical checkup I-Card around the neck to be issued by the prescribed Authority.
13. At certain designated resorts wellness tourist Camps in the tented Accommodation with allied-required infrastructure-facilities can be established to re-start tourism activities such as :-wellness, spiritual, Adventure and nature fresh.
14. People running from congested cities to farmhouses- villages may be offered resort stay homes-camps as a part of wellness tourism which will ease their mental stress.
15. JKTDC/Private players of Hospitality sector has to play an important role to start the wellness tourism when the Nation is in crises, this will ultimately carry forward and replace with the traditional tourism in the years to come.
16. To keep the distance from each and every individual, the movement advisory with defined guidelines needs to be issued .
As soon as wellness tourism activities are started the employment generation of the local population & other related activities of area shall boost the economy as well as livelihood of the host community.
To achieve the desired results integrated-joint efforts of all the departments as well as private players are required. A dedicated team to manage the destinations needs to be deployed under the overall control of concerned District Magistrate. |
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