Govt yet to come up with long-term plan

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 5

Despite large-scale tourism promotional activities launched by the PDP-BJP coalition government across the country, with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on the forefront of the campaign to attract visitors, the state continues to run the show on an ‘ad hoc manner’, with no long-term policy so far.

More than one crore tourists, including pilgrims, visit the state annually.

After the coalition government took over the reins of the state about four months ago, the tourism industry was expecting a comprehensive policy document to end years of neglect by previous regimes. The portfolio of Tourism was retained by the Chief Minister with a promise that a long-term plan would be introduced.

Sources said no baseline survey for identification of places to be developed as tourist destination circuits was conducted and development activities were being undertaken without ascertaining the feasibility of places. No data has been maintained on the number of tourists who visited new destinations at Sarthal, Basohli, Bani, Rajouri, Poonch and Kishtwar.

Even the scheme to outsource tourism assets ‘flopped’ due to the lack of interest by private companies keeping in view the dilapidated infrastructure and uncertain political situation.

“To achieve integrated and comprehensive development of an area, beauty is not the only criteria but allied infrastructure is also required. Promotional activities the previous government did will not make J&K a preferred destination, but we need a solid long-term dedicated planning,” said a senior official from the Tourism Department.

J&K is historically and geographically a diverse state with Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh having their own charms. While the Jammu region attracts millions of pilgrims, families and groups visit Kashmir to view the beauty of mountains and its alpine pastures.

“Promotional activities are limited to Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Bhaderwah and Patnitop. Others areas, especially Jammu, is being neglected. No effort is being made to complete the pending projects. We need improved infrastructure, not cultural functions,” said Hotel Association president Inderjeet Khajuria.

There have been adverse travel advisories against the state by Western European countries, the United States and Australia since the 1995 kidnapping of foreign tourists.

“No plan can succeed unless steps are taken to improve allied infrastructure. All the government need is focus on development and should seek additional funds from the Centre,” said Nawang Rigzin Jora, former Tourism Minister. Jora admitted that the efforts of the previous government had not borne enough fruit despite the focus on identifying new places.

Following concern expressed by wildlife experts on eco-tourism document, the previous government shelved a large-scale project to develop the eco-tourism sector in the state, despite neighbouring Himalayan states encouraging the sector by using effective laws to ensure the protection of the environment and it needs a review. Around 16,000 sq km of land under the Protected Area Network for eco-tourism development has been identified in the state.