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Calling the revival of Tourism industry in J & K as a matter of national pride, the Union Minister of State for tourism, Smt. Renuka Chowdhury has said central Government would take all concrete steps to develop tourism industry in J & K on priority basis. She said Government has been working on a special package in cooperation with Jammu & Kashmir Government for strengthening tourism infrastructure and other areas of industry so that socio-economic development of people of Jammu and Kashmir in general and stake-holders in the industry in particular, could be achieved to the maximum extent. She was addressing a gathering in Srinagar yesterday evening.
Inaugurating the newly constructed Tourist Information Centre at the TRC complex premises here today, Smt. Renuka Chowdhury wholeheartedly appreciated the role of all the stake holders in tourism industry from Kashmir valley while persevering with over one and half years of turbulent situation wherein all the areas of tourism were affected badly thus hitting economy of Kashmir to a larger extent. She said central government was committed to boost up tourism industry with all possible help in all the areas of planning, execution and implementation while keeping in view the larger interests of all the sections associated with this industry.
Later, addressing press conference, Smt. Chowdhury announced that the Ministry has released financial assistance in the form of subsidy to the tune of Rs. 16 crore for the upliftment of houseboat owners, hoteliers, shikarawalas, ponnywalas and other people associated with the trade. She said Rs. 43 crore soft loan has been already disbursed for development of various sectors of industry. She said construction work would soon start for skiing in mountaineering complex at Gulmarg at an estimated cost of Rs. 8.58 crore. She also announced assistance of Rs. 8 crore for Jammu tourism sector.
The Minister informed that Rs. 5 crore have been approved for development of rural tourism and Rs. 10 crore for development of other tourist projects in the State. She said Amarnath Yatra tourist circuit would be developed by the Ministry.
Smt. Chowdhury announced that the Union Ministry in association with State tourism department would hold car rally from Srinagar to Leh in September-October this year with people from all over the country participating. She said that the Ministry has planned to hold Kashmir festivals in 5 metropolitan cities starting from New Delhi in the month of October this year.
The Minister informed that Italian Government has withdrawn travel advisory for her citizens against visiting J & K. The Government of India, she said, has taken up effectively travel advisory issue with British government and favourably decision is soon expected to come. She said it was due to efforts of peopled of Kashmir that large arrival of tourists is seen in Kashmir and other parts of the State.
Referring to the development of rural tourism, the Minister said 5 out of 50 villages have been identified and necessary measure would soon be initiated to develop these villages as tourist places. She said her Ministry is initiating capacity building programmes by involving less privileged common people and youth to provide them opportunity to earn their livelihood from tourist trade.
Replying another query the Minister said central tourism Ministry would in future undertake massive publicity campaign to project K&K as safe and secure tourist destination, both at national and international levels. In this connection, ‘Incredible India’ Road shows are being organized in Middle East, South East Asian countries besides America this year itself. She said organizing Art camps at places like Gulmarg are in pipeline, to boost up tourism in the State. She also assured liberal central assistance to fund various projects for conservation of water bodies like Dal Lake, Wullar Lake, and River Jhelum etc.
Augmentation of Srinagar Delhi flight connectivity would also be done once the undergoing construction work of runways and parking space for aircrafts would be completed at Srinagar airport, the Minister said.
Earlier the Minister released Tourist Map of cities of Srinagar, Jammu & Leh, at a public gathering, which was attended by people from all the sectors of tourism industry including hoteliers, shikarawalas, ponnywalas and travel & trade etc.
The J & K Minister for Tourism, Shri Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister of State for Tourism, Shri Jugal Kishore, Principal Secretary Tourism, J & K, Shri Anil Goswami, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Shri Amitabh Kant, Director General Tourism, J & K Government, Shri Saleem Beigh and other senior officers also accompanied the Union Minister.
NCJ/DT
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