Through these columns, we have periodically been voicing for exploring tourist destinations in Jammu Division , finding new ones hitherto kept masked and in disguised form and providing infrastructural support to the existing ones to make them competitive in attracting tourists not only from within the State but from across the country. We have, in the same way been discussing in details, what ails those destinations which are known over the years as tourist hubs and the ones which could be potential hubs.
In this connexion, we have discussed and appraised various schemes and plans announced by the State Governments, those which are under pipeline and those which were announced but either the pace of work on them did not pick up as expected or they were stopped mid way due to financial crunch and allied reasons as also those, which though announced, never travelled beyond papers and official files. Different types of tourism, be it holidaying or entertaining tourism, religious tourism, adventurous tourism and the like, have not been explored and exploited in Jammu region as it should normally have been.
Even those spots like Patnitop, Kud, Sanasar, Mansar Lake, Surnisar Lake etc which are visited by lovers of nature and for enjoying quiet holidays are demanding reasonably adequate development to reach near optimal levels of tourist inflow. Even the World famous religious tourist spot, Holy Katra Town is not adequately developed. We have drawn the attention of the Government towards those places like Gool and Ghora Gali which have not only enchanting scenic beauty but possessed with remnants of historical glory, be it treasure trove of sculptures or other stone carvings and works of Mahabharat period which remains un-introduced to the people so far, hence a great opportunity missed in developing tourism in that area.
Pir Panchal, the treasure of heritage and adventure tourism, remains to be explored. Besides bewitching scenic beauty, the area is the destination also for students interested in knowing more about History and heritage. Here also, Rajouri and Poonch Tourism Development Authorities are to do a lot just to make it an average tourist destination so much are the infrastructural facilities required to be provided especially to make spots like Peer Ki Gali, Noori Chamb Waterfall, Chingus, Mughal Sarai, Bhimber Gali, Thana Mandi, old Poonch Fort and others, appear on the national tourism canvas.
Bhadarwah, Kishtwar and many attractive spots in Doda district are visited by tourists but the need is to explore and exploit the tremendous potential as regards the overall Jammu tourism. How many of us do visit Sarthal , nearly at 7000 ft height which is not far away from Jammu and falls in Kathua district? This tourist spot known among virgin tourist spots could become more attractive even than Patnitop both on account of distance from the winter capital and also due to the meadow of Sarthal remaining covered with snow for over six months annually.
Not to speak of many places, in and around Jammu city carrying a lot of tourism potential, we can popularize golf tourism, heritage and monuments tourism in a substantial way. The question, however, is as to why Jammu tourism is not picking up the way it should have been, though over years there is a perceptible change in the scenario. The main problem or the barrier is lack of the requisite infrastructural support. Connectivity, comfortable hotel facilities, associated recreational facilities, mobility and transport facilities, medical and associated facilities, road side public utilities, assured security environment, sightseeing facilities within a tourist place etc are some among the basic needs of making a tourist spot attractive. That , in turn could impact the local economy and create jobs in addition to resulting in the development of the particular area or spot. We also do not have a well defined ambitious tourism policy specially tailored for Jammu division. Artificial Tawi Lake is just an example in itself and how it is subjected to hiccups and intermittent brakes. Political speeches and empty rhetoric are no substitutes to a well devised strategy to develop Jammu tourism which requires more attention because of neglect and other reasons.
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