Smart package ordered to promote tourism in Jammu

Jammu, March 13 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Friday ordered preparation of an all inclusive smart package to promote ideal tourist destinations in Jammu region of the state.

An official statement issued in winter capital Jammu, after Sayeed chaired a high level meeting of the tourism department officials, said: "In a bid to promote exclusively the ideal tourist destinations of Jammu region, the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today issued immediate directions to the Tourism Department to prepare an all-inclusive smart package that focuses on increasing the occupancy levels and increasing footfall of nature tourists in the region."

The chief minister said he will examine within two weeks the blueprint of the package, which will be prepared in consultation with the private tour and travel operators.

In a bid to create another linkage to Jammu's tourism potential, besides the huge influx of pilgrims that visit the holy Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine on a daily basis, the Chief Minister said there is an urgent requirement to target the region's ideal and known locations like Sanasar, Bhaderwah, Patnitop, Sudhmahadev and Batote in the first phase.

The chief minister stated that the Tourism Conference showcasing the state's three regions as one entity will be held at Patnitop later this month.

The state tourism department should hold pre-conference discussions with all the stakeholders so that the meet becomes fruitful and result-oriented, Mufti said, adding that the aim of promotion of Jammu resorts is to optimally utilize the idle infrastructure and facilitate generation of employment opportunities for youth, the statement said.

"I have already expressed my desire to take back idle properties at known health resorts at Gulmarg and Srinagar and properly utilize unused infrastructure so that our intake capacity increases. These, however, remain interim measures. In long-term, we need to draw a map to develop high-end tourism infrastructure so that we cater to the requirements of overseas and domestic visitors," the chief minister said and directed the minister for finance to take up the issue related to Centaur Lake View Hotel with the union Ministry of Finance.

He also directed the Director Tourism, Kashmir, to immediately start light-and-sound show at Shalimar Mughal Garden at Srinagar.