Stakeholders need to cooperate on tourism in J-K: Governor

Jammu and Kashmir is a preferred getaway for many but the state needs a concerted effort by all stakeholders to become the leading tourist destination in the country, Governor NN Vohra said today.
"JK is a preferred tourist destination in the country but more effective coordination among all stakeholders is needed to establish the state as the leading tourist destination," Vohra said at the valedictory session of a two-day tourism conclave here.
The governor said though the state has faced situations in the past which adversely affected its prospects, the tourism sector was now "registering speedy progress".
"The difficulties faced in the state in the past years adversely affected the economy, including tourism...But with the diminishing of these influences and with the return of peace and normalcy, the tourism sector has started registering speedy progress," he said.

Vohra said what was required at this juncture was the creation of tourism infrastructure but cautioned that attention must also be given to protecting the environment.
The governor asked JK tourism minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who was present on the occasion, to clear tourism projects only after a proper scrutiny of plans.

"The natural beauty of (the state) and scenic spots are to be preserved; environmental concerns should also get appropriately addressed," he said.
The governor said the vision document, drafted as part of the conclave, needed to be examined by a multi-disciplinary group representing all the stakeholders in the tourism sector.

The tourism minister added that it was evident from the conclave and the ongoing 'Tourism Festival' in the state that the involvement of people at large could go a long way towards improving tourism in the state.
The two-day conclave here, organised by a private company to discuss various issues related to the tourism sector in JK, was attended by representatives of several tourism and trade bodies, among others.