Terming tourism as the backbone of state's economy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today called for harnessing its potential so that more visitors are attracted.
Tourism was one of the most rapidly-growing sectors in the world and state would provide greater accessibility to new destinations and create high-end infrastructure at existing ones so that a new class of visitors is attracted to state, Mufti said while reviewing the functioning of various Kashmir based Tourism Development Authorities in Jammu.
While unveiling his strategy for the next six years for increasing footfall of visitors to the state from other parts of the country and abroad, Mufti took a series of decisions which included laying of golf courses at Sonamarg and Yusmarg.
"Commencement of work on Ashmuqam Cable Car Project and Jammu Ropeway by removing bottlenecks, preparation of feasibility report of Cable Car Project at Yusmarg and outsourcing accommodation and sanitation in respect of all Tourism Development Authorities of the State" Mufti said.
Mufti issued immediate instructions to CEOs of Gulmarg and Pahalgam Tourism Development Authorities to take over administrative control of their respective golf courses.
Describing accessibility as the catchword for exploiting the rich potential of leisure, adventure, pilgrim and heritage tourism in the State, the Mufti said aggressive marketing was the need of the hour at the national and international levels to promote J&K as an ideal tourist destination.
