Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 31: National Conference Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah today said that the Tourism Industry in J&K had grown considerably in the last five years both in terms of new public and private infrastructure as well as the revenue that tourism generates in the State.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that the NC-Congress Government under the leadership of Omar Abdullah had brought about a Tourism Revolution in the State by systematically focusing on promoting the State as a premium destination as well as taking concrete measures to increase the hospitality infrastructure by leaps and bounds.
Welcoming the allied growth in Handicrafts and Cottage Industry Sectors due to a boost in tourist inflow into the State, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that the credit for a sustained growth in Tourism Industry also goes to the hoteliers and private sector players who have worked very hard and against all odds to create world-class tourism and hospitality infrastructure in the State and have also generated employment for thousands of unemployed youth.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that he had no doubt in his mind that the State Government would continue to focus on the Tourism Industry and added that certain grievances of the industry will be looked in to and addressed at the earliest possible instance. He said that inputs will be taken from Private Sector entities and entrepreneurs to enhance the State’s policy when it comes to Tourism.
He said that J&K has produced a budding lot of hard-working and highly capable young entrepreneurs who form the engine of J&K’s economic growth and reconstruction. Dr. Farooq Abdullah added that the efforts of the private sector especially budding entrepreneurs have received a boost through the State Government’s policies and this cooperation will continue to benefit the Tourism Industry in the future as well.