The Jammu and Kashmir government has asked Britain to lift the negative travel advisory issued to its citizens against visiting the state as the situation here has improved considerably. The request to lift the advisory was made by state Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora during his meeting with visiting British Deputy High Commissioner Julian Evans here on Monday, an official spokesman said. 

Evans, along with a team of senior officers, is on a three-day visit to Kashmir. Jora told the British officials that Germany has already lifted its similar travel advisory against Jammu and Kashmir following which a large number of foreign tourists have visited the state. 

He said lifting of the negative travel advisory by Britain shall also lure tourists from Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada to visit Kashmir. "Tourism is the mainstay of our state's economy and the government has launched a vigorous tourism promotion campaign in the country as well as in overseas countries," Jora said. 

Jora apprised the British Deputy High Commissioner about various tourism promotion measures undertaken by the government. He said the main focus is on bringing the state's virgin places on the world tourism map. The creation of world class tourism infrastructure is also a priority of the government, the minister added.