Expressing confidence that ensuing summer would be more productive in tourist related activities in the Valley and other parts of the State, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday asked all stakeholders to put in place necessary preparatory measures jointly right from now for receiving larger number of tourists in 2012.

“The concerned government agencies and private partners are equally responsible in making the stay of tourists comfortable in the State by way of providing up to the mark accommodation and befitting services”, he said asking them to rise to the occasion to face the challenge and make the season more than successful.

Addressing the 1^st meeting of State Tourism Advisory Committee (STAC), the Chief Minister who is also the Chairman of the Committee, said that government would extend help to the private sector in upgrading infrastructure and making services excellent.

The Chief Minister said that showcasing State’s tourist potential in foreign countries which have lifted negative advisories about Jammu and Kashmir like Germany, has become more important in the changed scenario to sell the State as choicest destination for conventional, adventure, sports and heritage tourism. He said government would facilitate participation of private partners in such campaigns to be organized by the Tourism Department outside the country.

Omar Abdullah said that besides taking number of measures to give boost to tourism sector in the State and generate employment for youth, the Central Government has been made to fast track the construction of 4-laning of National Highway and railway projects from Jammu to Srinagar. “This will give necessary fillip in making Jammu and Kashmir year round tourist destination for the tourists with wide-ranging interests”, he added.

The Chief Minister said that construction of inter-district roads and development of tourist circuits are other initiatives in this direction. He said his government has released Rs. 40 lakhs to Border Roads Organization for preparation of DPR for a road project from Larnoo,Tangmarg to Poonch district which will open a large chunk of far-flung areas for economic development. “This would also help to create an important tourist circuit for tourists and pilgrims”, he added.

This circuit would open Buda Amarnath Ji, Nagali Sahib (Poonch), Shahdara Sharief (Rahouri), Shiv Khori, Ambaran, Geopatha, Gurudawara and Soni-Mahiwal sites in Akhnoor for tourists giving considerable boost to the tourism sector in these areas.

Omar Abdullah said that the decks for Cable Car Project for Jammu are being cleared and project is likely to start soon the clearance for raising its one pillar in the forest area is received from the concerned Union Department for which matter is being persuaded.

The Chief Minister said that the Gate Foundation of artificial lake in Jammu has almost been completed and the revised Rs. 75 crore - project is likely to be completed within next three years. He said these and other measures taken to make Jammu focal point for tourists would yield positive results to attract a good number of pilgrims to visit Jammu and other places.

Minister for Tourism, Nawan Rigzin Jora said that State Government is working on a comprehensive tourist development road map to rejuvenate tourist activities in the conventional areas and showcase new areas for national and international tourism. He also cited the incentives being given to the private players in tourism sector and said that government is eager to give imputes to it to attain new highs.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atal Duloo, Directors of Tourism from Kashmir and Jammu, Managing Director, JKTDC, Managing Director, SKICC, various other senior officers and representatives of Travel Agencies, Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation, Houseboat Owners Association, Tourist Taxi Operators’ Associations and other Associations of Jammu and Kashmir associated with tourist sector.

In a PowerPoint presentation Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atal Duloo said that more than 13 lakh tourists visited Valley during last year while the figure of Shri Amarnath Ji yatris was 6.34 lakh. He said over one crore pilgrims visited Mata Vaishno Devi while the number of visitors to Ladakh was 1.79 lakh showing 136% increase from the last year.