Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi today emphasized the officers to explore all possibilities for promotion of adventure tourism in Reasi district which has immense scope and potential in this specific tourism sector.The Minister, while chairing a meeting of tourism and district administration, said that the district is blessed with religious tourism where around one crore tourists from across the globe visit annually. She said this huge number of tourists if diverted towards adventure tourism, health tourism etc, can change the economic profile of local areas in particular and of state as a whole.On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Reasi Prasanna Ramaswamy G, Director Tourism Samita Sethi and other officers were present.The Minister instructed the officers for involving local people before starting tourism related activities in their areas so that impending bottlenecks are removed easily. She also instructed the tourism department to start adventure activities courses for generating employment opportunities for local people.The Minister also directed the tourism department for supplementing the existing banners and boards from Jammu to Patnitop and from Jammu to Katra with publicity of adventure tourism.
The department was also instructed to complete all tourism buildings in district Reasi for their further utilization at an earliest.Earlier, AD Tourism Umesh Sham apprised of the potential of adventure tourism on 12 km stretch from Bara dari to Dera Banda Bhadur. He said that there is immense scope for promoting zorbing, zip lining, rock climbing, rappelling etc.The Minister also sought details on the progress of infrastructural development at Siard Baba for which it was informed by the officials that tenders for raising cafeteria, wayside amenities, landscaping and beautification of the tourist destination has been floated which would be followed by start of work soon.As far as development of infrastructure at Bhim fort, it was informed that all the components like parking, electrification, restaurant, toilets, benching etc have been raised and the same would be thrown open to the public shortly.The Minister asked Deputy Commissioner to identify the land and also provide other logistics so that adventure tourism can be developed in the district. She also stressed for laying focus on forthcoming world’s highest bridge at Bakkal and said that this will emerge as another tourism hub in the district.