news details |
|
|
| Tourism in Jammu | | | The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the tourism sector across Jammu and Kashmir. During the past two years the number of people visiting both the regions has declined considerably.
Soon after the pandemic broke out in 2020, the entire country went into a lockdown mode and it led to life coming to a grinding halt.
Tourism sector is a major engine of economic growth of Jammu & Kashmir. It contributes about 7% of the GDP of J&K. Lakhs of tourists used to visit Jammu region to pay obeisance at different temples in the region.
Pilgrims from across the country used to visit Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra all throughout the year. But after the outbreak of the pandemic all the religious places were closed. These places were opened after a long break and the number of pilgrims visiting Mata Vasihno Devi shrine were restricted.
The COVID-19 led to calling off the annual Amarnath pilgrimage for the past two years. Jammu region has been without visitors for almost two years now.
Erstwhile regimes led by Kashmir centric leaders were not able to promote Jammu as a tourist destination as they kept on focusing on Kashmir. Many heritage sites in the Jammu region were ignored by them. They didn’t pay any attention towards developing the places that could have given a boost to the tourism industry in Jammu region.
After J&K’s transition into a Union Territory the administration has been trying its best to push tourism recovery, in J&K budget’s 2021-2022, Rs 1,000 crore have been allocated for development of tourism infrastructure.
Now, the times have changed and Kashmir centric leaders are no more relevant. It’s high time for the Central and the UT governments to focus on the development of the tourism sector and infrastructure in Jammu region.
There is also a need for increasing awareness and in contemporary times more webinars should be organized to create awareness among domestic travelers and encourage them to explore the various tourist destinations and products in Jammu. Also, there is a need for proper maintenance of tourism properties so that they remain in impeccable condition throughout the year.
There is immense potential for rural tourism in the Jammu region. The need of the hour is to work on various projects for development of the tourism circuit by identifying the places and heritage sites, which can attract tourists. People of Jammu are hoping that discrimination with them would end soon and they will get their due share. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
