Reiterating resolve to exploit tourism potential of Jammu province to its fullest, Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Tourism, Culture, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks Priya Sethi said that the Government is committed to develop independent tourist circuits in the region and ensure that modern tourist infrastructure is put in place at all the tourist destinations of the region. She said that the region has potential for round the year tourism and pilgrim tourist from all across the globe, adding that facilities would be created to enhance the stay of these tourists and to take them to new tourist destinations. “The Government is working on the roadmap to fully develop tourist destinations of Basholi, Billawar, Reasi, Poonch, Rajouri and other lesser explored areas of the province,” she added. The Minister was speaking at the felicitation cum interaction session of All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association (AJHLA) held at Gumat here today. Priya Sethi said that the Government is planning to design a tourist circuit starting from Peer Baba Satwari to RS Pura via historical Shri Shiv Temple new Airport; Prince of Wales spot, Tulip Garden, Suchetgarh Border, Gahrana wet land with a tourist village in RS Pura and Purmandal on the pattern of Varanasi so that tourists get enough spots to visit and they might stay in Jammu for more days. She said that all Jammu bound mega projects including Artificial Tawi Lake, Cable Car Project, Multi-storied Shopping Complex at General Bus Stand, Manda Wild Life Sanctuary and others will completed in a time bound schedule and would attract tourists to the City of Temples. She said that there is enough scope to develop Bagh-e-Bahu further so that it may be centre of tourist attraction of the Jammu and directions have been given to the concerned authorities for the improvement of the Garden, besides starting light & sound show. Senior leader Yudhvir Sethi was also felicitated on the occasion by the association. Speaking on the occasion, Yudhvir Sethi said tourism industry is back bone of the State’s economy and efforts are afoot by the Central and State Governments to promote the State as an international tourism destination. In his presidential address, Inderjeet Khajuria highlighted the problems being faced by the hoteliers and stressed that the Coalition Government should take steps to improve tourism in the region.
