Emphasizing preservation of natural landscape and environment for sustainable tourism, Minister of Tourism, Tassaduq Hussain Mufti, on Friday asked the Chief Executive Officers of Development Authorities to create environment-friendly infrastructure at potential tourist resorts in the state.The Minister gave these directions during his maiden review meeting convened at SKICC in which CEOs of Development Authorities were present.While reviewing the existing infrastructure in the tourism sector, the Minister asked the CEOs to raise the infrastructure without disturbing the natural splendor and pristine glory of potential tourist places.While appreciating the massive sanitation drives at some tourist resorts, the Minister asked others to follow such initiatives and replicate them in their respective jurisdictions.The Minister also held an introductory meeting with the association heads of tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers and houseboat owners.Most of the private players related to tourism sector present in the meeting expressed their views and said the negative media publicity is harming the tourist inflow to Kashmir.
The Minister, while elaborating on government’s initiatives of tourism promotion, said that Valley Weekend programs were started to engage both locals and tourists. He stressed on initiating innovative measures to attract national and international tourists.The Minister stressed upon the need of promoting travel marts besides chalking out effective future strategies to take tourism to new dimensions. He also emphasized on imparting skills to service providers and train local youth in adventure sports.Earlier, Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah gave a detailed presentation on overall report on functioning of the tourism department, infrastructural development, challenges faced, its future plans and tourism promotional campaigns.The CEOs of all development authorities across the Kashmir Valley also gave a detailed presentation on their respective resorts, major issues they are facing and future plans for the development of tourism sector.