| Department in deep hole, Tourism officials holidaying on tax payers' money | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 30: Shammed and slammed by the government surveys for putting in place shoddy infrastructure for the tourists, officers of state's tourism department are plundering peoples' money on road shows outside the state rather than working on improving upon the identified grey areas.
These road shows being conducted by the department of tourism have come under the radar in the past as well as they have failed to yield the desired results in terms of tourist arrivals in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the reports coming to fore, policy think tank of the Government of India in its August 2018 report had revealed that Jammu and Kashmir was among the worst in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) when it comes to maintaining a balance between environment and tourism. The report titled, 'Report of Working Group II, Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region', discloses that the state is not investing in tourism despite the potential and earnings from the sector.
The total state expenditure on tourism in 2017, the report shows, was Rs 14.73 crore, a mere 0.03 per cent of the state's total Rs 48,819-crore expenditure.
J&K was placed third among the IHR states with least investment on tourism.
However, instead of rectifying the wrongs, those at the helm in the department of tourism are busy holidaying on tax payers' money and participating in the travel shows.
It was reported that on Sunday, officials participated in the travel show in Mumbai to showcase J&K state tourism and attract tourists to the state in Autumn and Winter seasons.
The reports also informed that Department of Tourism, J&K, had erected a spacious theme-based pavilion to provide ample space for the local travel agents, hoteliers and houseboat owners to showcase their products.
"This is nothing but draining out of the people's money. Instead of touring glamorous Indian cities, the department could have done well if it would have built a promising infrastructure for the tourists in the state. The reality is that the entire sector of tourism is in shambles but the government is more interested in travel shows that setting the department in order," said an official of the state dispensation.
As per the reports, the tourism department is also organizing Tourism Festival in mid-October in which many leading travel and tour operators, travel portal companies, bloggers, and important personalities from film industry, will be invited for Kashmir tourism promotion. |
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