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| Oops! Tourism Deptt discusses New Year celebrations for J&K, forgets Jammu | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 29: In a run up to the celebrations for the New Year in Jammu and Kashmir, the Tourism Department called a high-level meeting but seemingly forgot to focus beyond the Valley.
Official documents reveal that a meeting of the Tourism department was held at TRC Srinagar to review the preparations for these events in J&K but seemingly forgot to discuss prospective celebrations in Jammu.
Sources said no one from Jammu tourism was present in the meeting though the official documents said that the meeting was about gearing up such activities across J&K and not Kashmir alone.
At the meeting, referring to Kashmir, the top official “urged the officers to work as a team in order to achieve the desired outcomes.”
“We are seeing sudden surge in the tourist arrivals this month. The early snowfall has boosted our efforts and Tourists are enjoying their time in Kashmir especially in the world famous Ski resort of Gulmarg. The local Tourism stakeholders are also upbeat and hopeful of the return of Tourism to its normal levels for which the Department of Tourism will make all out efforts,” a top official said.
The officials who attended the meeting were briefed on the preparations for the winter activities being organized in Gulmarg including the Ski courses being organized by the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir and the Youth Services and Sports Department. The officials also reviewed the preparations for the upcoming Khelo India Winter Games tentatively scheduled to be organized in the month of February/March at Gulmarg.
A senior official said if Kashmir can be promoted for winter Tourism why not Jammu as well?
“From Patnitop to Mansar Lake to numerous tourist spots in Jammu, is there no place which government finds suitable for New Year celebrations? If Kashmir is a winter destination why not Jammu when actually most of the people from Kashmir love to be in Jammu during winters?” asked a senior official from Jammu on the condition of anonymity.
He said the government must “reconsider its policy of focusing more on Kashmir.”
When contacted a senior official said the government was “planning” to hold New Year event at Patnitop as well. |
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