Single window clearance for tourism projects: Sayeed

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today announced a "single window" for project clearance in a time-bound manner to fast-track approvals for laying high-end tourism infrastructure in the state.
"There is a need to promote 'Business with Ease' and the Single Window will facilitate creation of high-end facilities with global benchmarks," Sayeed said, chairing a high level meeting here.
He said his government would remove hurdles to facilitate brand tie-ups so that high-end intake capacity of the state, which is presently low is substantially increased to draw overseas and top-class domestic visitors to the state.
"A high-powered Committee will be framed that will facilitate creation of brand infrastructure to attract international tourist footfall to the state," he said.

Asking for a concerted effort to promote J&K as a top-class golf destination with week-end and week-long packages, the Chief Minister called for an organized publicity campaign to promote golf tourism in the state.
"We already have golf circuits at Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sidhra. We are exploring possibilities of laying new courses at Sonamarg, Sanasar and Yusmarg for which feasibility reports are being prepared," Sayeed said, adding Kashmir Golf Club, one of the oldest courses in the country, will also be refurbished to attract golf lovers.
He urged the top stakeholders in tourism industry to employ local youth in their hospitality and human resource divisions, saying expansion of tourism infrastructure would create countless employment opportunities in the services sector.

"Our youth are greatly talented in HR and Hospitality segments and I am sure they will do a fairly good job at the cutting-edge level," he asserted.