J&K govt to develop new tourist resorts

Tourists thronging Jammu and Kashmir will soon enjoy world-class facilities with the state government today giving the green signal for development of new tourist resorts to promote the sector.

"We have given the go-ahead for development of new tourist resorts in the state to promote high-earning leisure tourism," Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baigh said.

The tourism infrastructure in the state has grown around traditional tourist spots both in the private and the public sector, he said. Observing that most of the existing tourist infrastructure neither carried any fresh appeal nor matched the similar facilities available in the present-day tourism market, he said this had affected the state adversely which had not been able to fully exploit its potential.

Development of resorts through project-based approach was imperative for attracting high-spending tourists to the state, he said adding the government has decided that to start with the new tourist resorts with world-class multi-faceted facilities would be developed at Wullar-Manasbal, along the Sindh river near Villo bridge, Sonamarg, Surinsar and Mantalai.

A professional, preferably multinational, consultant would be engaged to draw up a plan for the development of these resorts, he said. Similar resorts are also proposed to be developed at Dudpathri, Bootapathri and Bungus valley, the deputy chief minister said and directed that the process for engagement of the consultant should be completed by the this month so that the development of resorts is taken up for execution at the earliest.

To ensure hassle-free development of the tourist resorts, they would be developed as a joint venture by the forest and the tourism departments, the minister said adding this would also ensure maintenance of the ecological and biodiversity of the new resorts.

A three-member committee, to be headed by the divisional commissioner Kashmir, was constituted for the finalisation of the master plan for sonamarg, he said. The committee had been asked to finalise the master plan soon to facilitate development of proper tourist infrastructure including accommodation for Amarnath pilgrims and tourists at Sonamarg, he said.

Another committee to be headed by the chief secretary was constituted for finalising the plan for the proper use of land lying vacant near the site of the tourist reception centre, Srinagar, that was gutted last year.

The committee would consider various proposals including leasing out of the land to a five-star chain of hotels. The committee would submit its report to the government and action would be taken after that, he said.