 "J&K to introduce new tourism policy to attract investments")
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is going to come out with a new policy to boost the prospects of tourism in the state.
The development comes against the backdrop of fall in tourism arrivals in the state.
The state is planning to attract private investment worth Rs 10,000 crore over the next five years in the sector.
Speaking to Business Standard, Talat Parvez, director of Tourism Kashmir and Shamim Wani, managing director of J&K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), said tourist arrivals in the state had been declining, which they attributed to recent natural calamities, including the recent floods coupled with the perception about the weak security situation in the state. The other key challenge for the state is the availability of hotel rooms.
To boost tourist arrivals, the department is promoting 20 new destinations and had identified 50 rural hamlets to promote rural tourism. The state is also looking at bringing out a new policy to attract investments in infrastructure, including setting up of hotels, restaurants, communication among others.
“We require around Rs 10,000 crore by 2025 to boost the tourism sector, especially to set up hotels across the category, to cater to 2.5 million tourists per year” said Parvez.
He noted the average demand for rooms in the famous tourism destinations in J&K is around 10,000-15,000 a day presently, while the capacity was only half.
To boost investment in the hospitality sector, the department is planning to organise business promotion meeting in April or September in the Valley.
“Some of the top names like Starwoods of Sheraton group, Radisson Blu, ITC and others have shown interest,” said Parvez, who noted as per the norm, investors should tie up with a local partner. He added that presently the Centre was offering around Rs 100 crore every year to improve tourism infrastructure in the state.
The Corporation also said that it would hold roadshows in various geographies to attract tourists.
He noted, in 1944, almost 50 per cent of the tourists coming to India, used to come to J&K, but now hardly 1-2 per cent only comes.
The drop was significantly due to the fall in European tourist arrival for various reasons.
The State is also working at attracting airlines, which can operate direct flights from Dubai to Kashmir, considering more tourists from the desert counties in Middle East is growing. The Corporation also said that tourist arrival from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia is growing in the recent years.
The development comes against the backdrop of fall in tourism arrivals in the state.
The state is planning to attract private investment worth Rs 10,000 crore over the next five years in the sector.
Speaking to Business Standard, Talat Parvez, director of Tourism Kashmir and Shamim Wani, managing director of J&K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), said tourist arrivals in the state had been declining, which they attributed to recent natural calamities, including the recent floods coupled with the perception about the weak security situation in the state. The other key challenge for the state is the availability of hotel rooms.
To boost tourist arrivals, the department is promoting 20 new destinations and had identified 50 rural hamlets to promote rural tourism. The state is also looking at bringing out a new policy to attract investments in infrastructure, including setting up of hotels, restaurants, communication among others.
“We require around Rs 10,000 crore by 2025 to boost the tourism sector, especially to set up hotels across the category, to cater to 2.5 million tourists per year” said Parvez.
He noted the average demand for rooms in the famous tourism destinations in J&K is around 10,000-15,000 a day presently, while the capacity was only half.
To boost investment in the hospitality sector, the department is planning to organise business promotion meeting in April or September in the Valley.
“Some of the top names like Starwoods of Sheraton group, Radisson Blu, ITC and others have shown interest,” said Parvez, who noted as per the norm, investors should tie up with a local partner. He added that presently the Centre was offering around Rs 100 crore every year to improve tourism infrastructure in the state.
The Corporation also said that it would hold roadshows in various geographies to attract tourists.
He noted, in 1944, almost 50 per cent of the tourists coming to India, used to come to J&K, but now hardly 1-2 per cent only comes.
The drop was significantly due to the fall in European tourist arrival for various reasons.
The State is also working at attracting airlines, which can operate direct flights from Dubai to Kashmir, considering more tourists from the desert counties in Middle East is growing. The Corporation also said that tourist arrival from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia is growing in the recent years.