Saima Bhat
October 10, 2012
Srinagar
In a response to the state government’s bid to boost tourism in J&K through road shows held abroad, the German government has started a process to remove adverse travel advisories for its citizens who wish to travel to Kashmir. The information was shared in the legislative assembly by Nasir Aslam Wani, MoS Tourism. He also informed the house that USA and Canada are expected to follow the suit in next few weeks time.
The tourism department and government of India consider USA and Canada as good markets for the promotion of various destinations in J&K. For this purpose a delegation of six members of JKTDC were deputed by the state government to attend these road shows. The expenditure on each of them was Rs 4.11 lacs. State says that such programs are to facilitate better understanding of tourism potential and improved security scenario of the state.
Back in state, the department of tourism has already approved 165 new projects under central financial assistance costing Rs 516.80 crore out of which Rs 299.66 crore were already released by ending August 2012. From this amount the expenditure of Rs 227.14 crore has been booked.
State informed house that in last two years, 2010-12, Rs 215.35 crores has been spent under the state plan for the promotion of the department and besides new projects, the renovation of the already existent projects and development of infrastructure is already going on.
The new projects also include the three mega projects, each given to Jammu (conservation and restoration of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex), Kashmir (development of tourist circuit from Naagar Nagar to Watlab) and Ladakh (Trans Himalayan Cultural Centre at Leh) at the cost of Rs 77.46 crore.
State has also informed the house that the tourism department is also going to promote the rural tourism for which 29 villages have been sanctioned by MoT GOI and for it Rs 18.81 crore has been already sanctioned out of which 19 projects have been completed and remaining are in progress. In addition 23 more such projects are under submission to GOI for sanction.
The documents also reveal that the total plan allocation for Tourism Sector in current financial year is Rs 111.31.
