Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has asked the stakeholders in tourism sector, including the concerned government departments, to take environmental concerns into account while evolving a national tourism policy.

"There is need for appropriate sensitivity to environmental concerns by the state tourism departments, travel trade and all other stakeholders, while evolving a National Tourism Policy," he said. Vohra was addressing the valedictory function of Annual Convention of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India here yesterday. He said there was a need for generating greater awareness among the tourists and the people at large for the protection of bio-diversity.

Nearly 6.5 lakh tourists have visited the state so far this year, including over 21,000 foreign visitors, he said, adding the number of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, which was 87 lakh last year, is likely to touch the one crore-mark this year. "Side by side, the number of pilgrims to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine was over 6.35 lakh this year," he said, adding that with gradual return of peace and normalcy in the state, the flow of tourists would keep increasing.