Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar today informed that the Government is working to bring Jammu division on tourism map.Replying to a question of Ashok Khajuria, the Minister on behalf of Tourism Minister informed that proper connectivity is pre-requisite for bringing any destination on tourism map. He said various areas and sites have tourism potential in Jammu division and there is great need for developing tourism related infrastructure there. He said that the Government would make every effort to develop road connectivity to these destinations so that these could be brought on tourism map.Akhtar said the Ranjeet Sagar Dam is being projected as a major tourist destination in the Jammu division and funds will be allocated accordingly for its promotion.
The Minister informed that funds were provided under Revenue Budget for promotion and publicity of tourism sector by allocating Rs 8 crore to Kashmir province and Rs 4.8 crore to Jammu Province. He said the advertisements are made in local, national and international magazines and newspapers, besides commercials in local and national TV channels and Radio spots for wide publicity of tourism in the State.The Minister informed that the Department has Publicity Committee, which finalizes the events in which the department participates or organizes. This includes holding, participation of national and international Travel Marts and organization of local festivals jointly by Directorate of Tourism Kashmir and Jammu. He informed that the Department has an official advertising agency namely M/S Crayons Advertising, New Delhi which manages the advertisement campaigns of the Department.Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri and Vibodh Gupta raised supplementary to the main question.