Comparing the mesmerising beauty of Bhaderwah with that of Pahalgam and Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said concerted efforts will be made to increase the tourist footfall in the the town, nicknamed 'Chota Kashmir', and packaging it as an independent leisure destination.
The CM, who is on a visit to the town, inaugurated the Bhaderwah Tourism Festival, a carnival of cultural and folk events which attracts people from all over Chenab Valley.
He also chaired the 7th Board of Directors' meeting of Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA) during which he took wide-ranging decisions aimed at putting the tourist resort in the forefront of travel industry.
Sayeed's deputy Nirmal Singh, Minister for Forest Bali Baghat besides other officials attended the meeting.
Exhorting officers to bring hidden destinations like Bhaderwah on the tourism canvas of the state, the CM sought participation of private players in creation of high-end tourism infrastructure since it was "capital-intensive"
He said public-private partnership in tourism sector will not only spur investment but also sustain local economy by creating job opportunities.
"The footprint of tourists won't increase unless advance planning is done to launch destinations like Bhaderwah and Jai valley. The optimal use of our existing assets will help make tourism a revenue-generating industry," he said.
To showcase Bhaderwah, Jai, Padri, Seoj and Kailash Kund as one-circuit destination, Sayeed ordered the state's tourism department to convene a travel trade conference on November 15 at Bhaderwah to finalise family packages so as to increase inbound tourist footfall.
