Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora on Saturday said that as Tourism Minister he put his best to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir around the globe and efforts were made to develop not only the existing tourism infrastructure but several new tourist destinations were brought on the tourism map.
Addressing a function organised by All Jammu Hotel and Lodges Association here at Jammu Club, Jora said that all efforts to give new fillip to the tourism sector in the State received considerable attention and varied tourism activities including pilgrim tourism, sports and adventure, cultural tourism attracted record number of tourists to Jammu and Kashmir and gave much needed impetus to this highly important sector for the economic welfare of the people.
Mr Jora said that all the three regions received equal attention and several major development initiatives were taken and some are in pipe line for development of tourism in Jammu Division including several tourism centres, golf courses, cable car projects, Mubarak Mandi Culture Heritage centre, border tourism, development of lakes including artificial lake on River Tawi, TRC at Rajouri, face lifting of Bahu Fort and many more projects.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jora hoped that all those projects launched by him, would be completed under the leadership of the new Tourism Minister, G.A Mir, and expected that these projects on which presently the work is going smoothly would be completed within the stipulated time.
Addressing the gathering, the newly inducted Minister for Tourism, G.A Mir assured Mr Jora that all the projects executed by him would be completed as early as possible and added that efforts would be made to prioritise all those left out areas which still have not been put on the tourist map. He said when Kashmir valley was passing through rough times, it was Ladakh and Jammu regions which gave life line to the tourism industry and kept the traditions of tourism industry alive with their best hospitality, which the people of the State have inherited from centuries.
He said that City of Temples has a great pilgrimage potential and lakhs of pilgrims are visiting Raghu Nath Temple after paying obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi Temple at Katra. He said that railway link from Jammu to Katra to Kashmir would also help significantly attract tourists to various tourist destinations.
Earlier, the main demands put forth by the All Jammu Hotels & Lodge Association included diversification of pilgrims tourists to various destinations in Jammu. They also demanded construction of a recreational park on State land near artificial lake at River Tawi fitted with all the basic facilities for tourists.
The Association also demanded more flyovers and construction of Subways in Jammu city for smooth flow of traffic.
Commissioner-Secretary, Tourism, Atul Duloo, Director Tourism, Jammu, R.S Matha, President, All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association, Inderjeet Khajuria were present on the occasion.
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