Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 28: In a major decision aimed at boosting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, which had shown decline in all three regions this year, the State Government was mulling granting full incentives of industry to the tourism with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who holds charge of the Tourism Department, directing top officials of the Ministry to initiate all measures to attract the tourists and boost the tourism industry.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Mufti Sayeed has directed officials of the Tourism Department to prepare a roadmap for development of tourist spots, attracting the tourists-both domestic and international-and providing all facilities to the tourist trade, which were being enjoyed by the industry to sustain the people, who were solely dependent on tourism for their livelihood.
In his list of directives, the Chief Minister in his capacity as the Tourism Minister, has asked the Tourism officials to take measures to boost tourism in all three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and sustain the tourism industry, which has suffered badly due to massive slide in arrival of tourists this year due to various factors including disturbances in the Kashmir valley, borders and last year’s devastating floods.
Though the tourism was declared as industry in Jammu and Kashmir way back in 1994, it was getting very limited benefits, which were granted to the industry. The Chief Minister has asked officials of the Department to prepare detailed list of the benefits that can be conferred upon the tourism, which were applicable to other industries but not to the tourist trade.
“Tourism has been declared as industry only for the namesake. A number of benefits, which were available to the industry, were not available to tourist trade,” sources said, adding these benefits would not only help tourist industry to sustain but also provide more facilities to tourists and attract them to Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said the Tourism Ministry has also directed the Department to take up the projects for raising infrastructure at tourist spots by preparing roadmap and don’t just go by laying foundation stones, preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and then not taking care of the projects.
“Every tourism related project must be made time bound. There can be delay of months or so but not years. We shouldn’t take up projects for the sake of laying foundation stone. There should be categorical roadmap for the project i.e. funding of the project, clearance from all agencies, time period of execution and viability etc,” the directions by the Tourism Ministry said.
The directions, according to sources, were necessitated as several tourist related projects undertaken in hands previously remained incomplete or were not even initiated after laying foundation stones. “The projects once taken must be completed well in time,” they said.
The flow of tourists including religious tourism has taken a slide this year in all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir, which was cause of concern not only for the Government but all those concerned with tourist trade. Sources said the Government has also advised the Tourism Department to explore attraction of more winter tourists at different parts of the State by generating infrastructure and facilities.
The Chief Minister has directed the Tourism officials to personally supervise facilities and raising of infrastructure at all the spots to arrest decline in the tourist arrival in the State.
“The focus of the Tourism Department will also be on exploring new destinations to extend stay of tourists and boost economy of the local areas,” sources said, adding that the officials would have to report to the Chief Minister and his Secretariat about progress of all tourist related projects, facilities generated and require and other related information after every three months.
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