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| One crore tourists expected to visit state in next five years | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 27: Since Jammu and Kashmir State was emerging as a major tourist destination experts expect the annual tourist traffic to touch over 20 lakhs within next six to seven years. And as far as the pilgrim tourist traffic is concerned it may cross one crore figure within next five to seven years.
Official sources agree with this projection on the plea that the annual pilgrim traffic to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine has touched over 70 lakhs and that of Amarnath shrine over six lakhs one need not feel surprised if the tot al pilgrim traffic crossed one crore during next five years.
These sources said that the pilgrim tourist traffic has become a dependable industry for traders, transporters, hoteliers, porters and ponnywallas in Jammu and Kashmir.
This is evident from the ever increasing number of pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi and Amarnath shrines even during the period militancy was its peak in the state.
In this connection leaders of various political and religious bodies including VHP, JSM, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, have demanded further improvement in the infrastructure enroute the two mountain shrines so that the number of pilgrims to these shrines increased further.
Leaders of various trade Associations and those heading the hoteliers' Association and he Houseboat owners Association have urged the Government to develop more tourist destinations in the state so that tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir extended their stay.
They said there was urgent need for developing lodge and board facilities in new tourist destinations which should be connected by metalled roads to the two state capitals.
They wanted these issues to be addressed in the 20-year tourism development plan being formulated for Jammu and Kashmir.
They wanted separatists to avoid raking up extraneous issues connected with Amarnath pilgrimage so that increased number of pilgrims to the mountain shrine brought gains to the people connected with tourism and to the state. |
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