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| `People at helm of Tourism lack vision to promote it' | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 29: Tourism considered a back bone of Jammu and Kashmir's economy lacks proper vision to promote this vital sector.
This could be gauged from the fact that government has failed to complete several vital projects of the tourism sector and even failed to implement the eco-tourism policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The tourism department has framed a tourism policy under which it is expected that Kashmir would be a leading destination by 2025.
This only is possible when the unexplored picturesque destinations are developed and completion of the vital tourism projects.
So far, it has been restricted to few destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Mughal gardens, Tulip Garden and the Dal Lake, while dozens of picturesque places have remained hidden destinations.
The Tourism department in 2014 announced developing or renovating heritage/pilgrim tourism places in Srinagar under Centre's Project/Infrastructure Development for Destination and Circuits (PIDDC) scheme.
The project includes Development of Eidgah, Face-lifting of Khankai Moula, Development of Jamia Masjid Heritage Corridor, Renovation of Aali Masjid, Upgrading of Ziyarat Abdul Razaq Sahib at Hawal, Ziyarat Hazrat Balaad Rumi at Rajouri Kadal, Ziyarat Akhoon Sahib and TajBibi at Fateh Kadal, Ziyarat Hazrat Noor Shaha Sahib at Narwara, and Conservation of areas from Naagar Nagar to Watlab. Similarly, there are several projects in Jammu region, which are lingering for last several years. These all projects have been shelved by the government without anything being done on the ground.
The tourism players have been often flaying the government for its failure in developing unexplored destinations, which could become an alternative to the existing ones and boost the tourism sector.
Similarly, the ambitious 'eco-tourism' project is yet to take off in the Kashmir valley.
Taking a cue from Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir government in 2009 had decided to promote eco-tourism which would have given tourists myriad experiences of the countryside.
Under the eco-tourism project, the state wanted to promote adventure tourism, trekking, water rafting, bird watching, fishing, night camps, forest camps, wetland visits and wildlife education.
However, 10 years on, the eco-tourism project is confined to papers only. Eco-tourism is defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.
An official of J&K Wild life department said their eco-tourism wing is still in the infancy stage.
Officials said lack of infrastructure is the major hurdle in implementing the project. "This show non-serious attitude of the government in promoting the vital sector," the official added. |
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