Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: Responding to the demands of the Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra, Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir, Atal Dulloo emphasized the importance of diverting one crore pilgrims and tourists to other tourist and pilgrim attractions and elaborated that the main objective of it would be to increase the stay of tourists so that it may contribute to the economic growth of the Union Territory.
This was informed by HRAK in a press release, issued here today after meeting with the Chief Secretary. Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D Vaidya; Commissioner Secretary Tourism Yasha Mudgal; Secretary Public Works Department Bhupinder Kumar; Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta, Jt Director Tourism Jammu, Sunaina Sharma Mehta; President Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra & Chairman PHDCCI Jammu Region Chapter, Rakesh Wazir were prominently present in the HRAK meeting with the Chief Secretary.
Rakesh Wazir, while speaking on the occasion highlighted the success stories of various tourist destinations around Katra which became popular within years and Tourists flow increased from bottom to top. He gave example of Shiv Khori, Nau Devian, Baba Dhansar, Sear Baba, Patnitop, Bhaderwah etc and suggested adding more places of Tourists intrests like Devi Pindian, Mathwar, Ambaran, Showa Mata, Raghunath Temple, Bawe Wali Mata to the list.
He said that to increase the flow of yatries certain steps are required to be taken including starting of Light & sound show on the history of Maa Vaishnodevi ji at Katra, enhancing the beauty and infrastructure of Mansar Lake, including the introduction of battery-operated cars for ferrying the Tourists for taking round, around Mansar Lake, setting up of a museum with interactive exhibits showcasing Jammu’s destinations, introducing of integrated tour packages for heritage, culture, adventure, eco-tourism, religious tourism & wellness, launching of an effective digital campaign etc
He also emphasized for promotion of Mata Ki Parikarma Yatra to extend the stay of yatries besides promotion of the old traditional route of Maa Vaishnodevi which includes Kol Kandoli-Jagti, Bamyal, Oli Mata Temple-Deva Mai etc.
The Chief Secretary purportedly assured that the Government would focus on these initiatives to establish Katra as a tourism hub and ensure the holistic development of nearby destinations.
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