Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has a vision for Jammu & Kashmir and its people and bringing lesser known destinations like Doodpathri, Yousmarg, Gurez Valley, Aharabal and Bangus on the tourist map of the State is a part of that vision.He said the Tourism Department has been asked to make plans and programmes for the development and promotion of these virgin destinations in a big way so that more and more tourists are attracted to visit such places.
The Minister was interacting with National Tour and Travel Operators who conducted FAM tour of Yousmarg today.The FAM tour was organized by the Department of Tourism and it comprised 10 teams of tour and travel operators from various parts of the country besides Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association, Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, Hotel Federation of Kashmir, All Operator Tour of India, Tour and Travel Delhi, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir and Pahalgam Hotel Association.This is for the first time that the travel companies from other states including New Delhi, West Bengal and Gujarat are visiting Kashmir to explore the lesser known destinations for their tour packages.The Minister said these destinations have the potential to attract and accommodate large number of tourists but need of the hour is to develop proper infrastructure at such places.He said BSNL has been asked to install cellphone tower at Doodpathri and Yousmarg for which land has been identified and it would start functioning soon. He said Airtel mobile and internet services would also be ensured at these destinations.
The Minister asked the tour operators to join hands with the tourism department and work as Ambassadors in motivating maximum tourists to visit these destinations adding that the Government will give full support in this regard.The tour operators said the places like Doodpathri can be a perfect one-day picnic spot. They also gave various suggestions for developing these spots and said that concrete construction should be avoided in these places for maintaining ecological balance.In response to suggestions, the Minister assured the tour operators that the same would be considered and said the Government intends to construct huts at Doodpathri which will pave the way to accommodate and facilitate tourists for night stay.Director Tourism Kashmir Mr. Farooq Ahmad Shah also interacted with the tour operators and said it is part of an initiative taken by the Government to promote new tourism destinations in Kashmir. Among others, Joint Director Tourism Mr. Tassaduq, Chief Executive Officer Yousmarg Tourism Development Authority, Mr. Javid Bakshi and Deputy Director Tourism Peerzada Zahoor Ahmad accompanied the FAM Tour during their visit.