Minister of State for Tourism, Education, Technical Education, Culture, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks Priya Sethi today chaired a high level review meeting of the tourism department.A comprehensive review of the physical and financial achievements of the department was done in the meeting.Underscoring on developing Jammu as an independent tourist destination, the Minister said that the government is committed to bring the city of temples up on the tourism map of the country and all necessary steps needed for the same would be taken in a time bound manner. She directed the tourism department to prioritise and fast track the projects which have been undertaken so as provide an excellent experience to the visiting tourists.
“The department has to immediately develop a mobile application and tourist who enters the State should get all the required information on his handset only,” she stressed.She called upon the department to prepare and install hoardings depicting information about tourist destinations in and around Jammu city, adding that tourist should know that how far Balidan Stamb, Chamliyal, Jia Pota, Suchetgarh and other such places of interest are from the city.
Director, Tourism, Jammu R.K. Verma, Joint Director, Deputy Directors, Executive Engineer and other senior level officers of the tourism department attended the meeting.
While issuing directions to focus attention on innovative tourism projects, the Minister said that Sports tourism, border tourism, rural tourism and projection of new tourist circuits needs focused attention and private corporate houses should also be involved to take the tourism to new heights in the state.She said that special tourist packages need to be announced and hoteliers should be involved to extend such offers.“Tourism industry in back bone of the state and our Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has taken personal interest by touring border areas as well as major tourist destinations of Jammu to ensure that tourism in the province gets a boost,” she added.Calling upon officers of the department to speed up the pace and progress of tourism infrastructure projects, Priya said that the department has to ensure that all the projects which are nearing completion should be finished on priority so that improved infrastructure could be handed over for utilisation by the tourists.She directed the concerned officers to organise special festivals and events at different locations in the province so as to highlight the tourist destinations as well as rich cultural heritage of the state, adding that a calendar of events should be prepared in advance and events like Jammu festival, Shiv Khori Mela, Lohri festival, Baisakhi festivals and other such events in Bhaderwah, Basholi as well as other locations should be organised with pomp and show.