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Today's Bulletin - Friday, March 29, 2024

RNA

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Tourism department to promote three other destinations for winter Tourism other than Gulmarg.

Tourism department to promote three other destinations for winter Tourism other than Gulmarg.

Despite Covid, 2.5 Lakh Tourists visited Kashmir: Dir Tourism


Srinager, Aug 29 ( RNA): In what could be a major flip to Tourism industry, government has decided to develop three major destinations as "Winter Tourism destination" inorder to decongest Gulmarg and efforts are afoot to introduce Ski lift in Sonamarg for the same. The Tourism department is also contemplating to lay focus on promoting "Pilgrimage Tourism" and many shrines, Temples and religious places including Hazratbal Shrine, Baba Amernath and Haji Murad Bukhari( RA) in Kreeri are being developed on modern lines to attract pilgrim tourists. Besides, this the department in a major Tourism promotion drive has decided to hold nearly 75 festivals in coming weeks besides a maiden" Bird Watching" Festival at Hygam bird sanctuary in Sangrama Constituency of Baramulla district. 
Speaking in RNA's Weekly Show " Prime Time" with Beenish Kazmi on Saturday evening, Director Tourism Kashmir Dr G.N Itoo said, that kashmir was the only place having all season tourist destinations, adding , his department has decided to promote Sonamarg, Phalgam and Doodpathri simultaneously for winter tourism so that there will be no conjunction at one place ( Gulmarg) as experienced in previous years. He also said that skiing lift will be installed at sonamarg for which DPR has been forwarded and in Gulmarg there will be machinery upgradation at slopes. Dr Itoo also told RNA host that department has also taken steps for Khelo India Programme which is going to be held in Gulmarg for third time later in the year.
" Despite it the main focus will remain on roads and tourism department will work in close coordination with the District administrations so that water, electricity supply including road connectivity and other basic facilities may remain available." said the director .
 
According to Director Tourism , after the pandemic disease COVID19 tourists prefer to visit offbeat destinations to get rid of crowd and close to nature, for which department has planned to develop various offbeat destinations and on the directions of Lieutenant Governor (LG) all the infrastructural development was completed in 15 days on offbeat destination Gurez and mega festival was done with very high flow of tourism. Another offbeat destination is Bungus which has high potential in trekking, sliding and nature walk in (Bada Bungus and Chota Bungus). Department is working on its road connectivity and other issues. He added that, proper arrangements under PMDP (II) toilets and other basic infrastructural developments will be also done at tourist destinations like 
Shranj water fall, Haji Bal, Tarzoo ningli, Peer ki Gali, Mund Daji and other offbeat destination. These places are developed as eco tourism, with the consultancy of experts DPRs will be done and will be forwarded to GOI for its approval for which LG is also concerned. 
 
Moreover 75 festivals are going to be held across UT among which 40 will be done in kashmir. The first festival of Bird Watching is going to be held in Sangrama constituency in the month of November.The guest gave the the brief information regarding the functions of the department. He said that, Kashmir has vast potential in every sector of tourism whether it is commercial, offbeat or pilgrimage tourism and other than this kashmir is all season destination. He said after first phase of Covid-19 pandemic disease about 2.5 lack tourists visited kashmir 
 
Director Tourism said that Department is committed for promotion of tourist destinations especially religious places like Amernath, Baba Reshi and other sacred tourist places. He said people across the country love to visit kashmir not only due to its beauty but they visit Temples, Shrines Church's and other religious places which have given boost to pilgrimage tourism in kashmir. He added that, Infrastructural Development continues for pilgrimage tourism in kashmir to make this sector more attractive for tourists in kashmir. The work is going on various Tourist Reception Centres (TRC's) and huts by PMDP projects under PRASAD Scheme. He said I visited kreeri where people demanded for structural development of famous shrine Haji Murad Bukhari (RAH) on modern lines like Charar e Sharief. He said with the consent of higher authorities DPR will be framed and after the approval Infrastructural Development of the shrine will be done on modern lines to make it more attractive for tourists. He said issues regarding lights were also raised by the general public which was resolved on spot. He said department has done various renovation and repairing works under PRASAD Scheme at various places like Hazratbal shrine, Mukdam Shab, tral, Multi Level parking, Babashukur Din watlab, Gurdawaras and temples.RNA

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