Bids for 20 J&K plots

State govt to increase the number of tourist resorts

To meet the rising demand for accomodation owing to the heavy influx of tourists in view of paucity of funds, the Jammu and Kashmir government is planning to auction plots across the state for development as resorts.

"We have identified 20 sites in the state, which will be auctioned for being developed as tourist resorts," Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said here yesterday.

The plots put up for auctioneering would be between one to two acres, the chief minister said, adding that a similar plan was afoot for the picturesque spots of Sonamarg and Pahalgam in the state.

Encouraged by the swelling numbers of tourists, Sayeed also called for developing "Tourist villages" in the state, besides improving the tourism infrastructure.

He cited the example of an Australian tour agent, who had asked for a booking of 1,000 rooms in Gulmarg alone, for the forthcoming winter season. Sayeed said tourists from all over the world want to experience the culture and atmosphere of Kashmir, which can be felt at tourist villages only.

The concept, he suggested, would also help the local economy, as its benefits would be felt at the grass-roots level, with all people associated with the tourist trade getting their share.

Pointing out the importance of tourism as the top-priority sector of the PDP-led coalition government, the chief minister said as part of his efforts, the Centre had agreed to add two Indian Airlines flights per week to Srinagar.

"I had also requested the Union minister for civil aviation to connect Srinagar and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) via Dubai. It would help tourism as well as people from the state to perform umrah (minor Haj pilgrimage) with convenience," he added.

The Centre had also been requested to ask private airliners like Jet Airways and Sahara to operate additional flights to the Srinagar route to meet the demand of tourists.

The tourism industry is one where the gains were noticable in a short period of time, compared with other sectors like power where the projects take at least three to five years for completion, he said.

Sayeed also cited the changes that have taken place in the recent past with the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. A delegation of tour operators from Pakistan was likely to visit Kashmir in July to explore the possibilities of bilaterial tourism, Sayeed added.

Destination Kashmir

• The plots put up for auctioneering would be between one to two acres
• A similar plan was afoot for the picturesque spots of Sonamarg and Pahalgam in the state
• The government also plans to develop 'Tourist villages' in the state
• The Centre has also agreed to add two Indian Airlines flights per week to Srinagar