Known for tourism, J&K has no tourism policy

Mir Farhat
Srinagar, Jan 6: Despite tourism being one of the contributors to State economy, the Government has failed to formulate a comprehensive tourism policy in the State, which would help to give fillip to the sector.
The tourism players said lack of tourism policy could spoil the peaceful and pristine environment of the Valley.
Owing to the heavy inflow of tourists to the State and the increasing competition with outside tourist destinations, it has become necessary for the State to upgrade existing hotels, guest houses and develop new destinations to attract more tourists.
It is only possible when the state has a well-planned tourism policy that can improve the sector.
“A comprehensive tourism policy is the need of an hour and will make a road map so that tourist places are fast developed on modern lines to cater huge tourist inflow without degrading the environment,” said Rauf Tramboo, President, Travel and Tour Operators in the Valley.
Tramboo said a comprehensive tourism policy will help and attract the entrepreneurs for creation of tourism infrastructure like hotels, guest houses and restaurants.
“This would create opportunities of employment for jobless youth in the state,” he said.
Since the State has abundant potential for tourism as it is abode to many lush-green pastures and green mountains, and flowing water bodies, yet their proper exploration and development has not been carried out by the State.
By having the policy, Government can identify such new destinations, create infrastructure there to attract tourists, he said, adding which in turn will open up employment for the youth of the State.
The tour operator said that they have met two Chief Ministers-Mufti Sayeed in 2002, and Omar Abdulla last year-and former Tourism Minister G A Mir to get the policy vetted in the state. “Nothing happened despite their promises to us,” he added.
Other states which have a much less potential for tourism, the Governments there have implemented tourism policies.
Tramboo said that tourism sector in the state is in a haphazard manner as there was no coordination between the tourism players and the Government.
He believes that having a policy will help to take the notice of the problem and see the strengths of the industry, work on the weaknesses and look at other opportunities.
“There is no monitoring and everyone is running this sector his own way,” Tramboo claimed.
Director Tourism Parvez Talat told Excelsior that the department has framed a draft of the tourism policy which would be placed before the next Government.
“We are working to get the suggestions and viewpoints from the experts in the field and tourism players which can also be included in the draft of the policy,” he said.

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