Gurez crown of Kashmir, unlocked new vistas for promotion of tourism industry: Mir

GURAZ: Minister for Tourism, Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Mir has said that all available resources would be utilized to promote tourism in the State which is a main source of income for Jammu and Kashmir adding that Gurez is crown of Kashmir and has opened new vistas for growth of Kashmir tourism industry.
This was stated by the Tourism Minister at the inaugural function of 2 day Guraz festival. He said Guraz festival was a great success and more such events would be organized in future to promote tourism in the Valley.
Minister of State for Animal Sheep Husbandry and PHE, Mr. Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Who is also MLA of Gurez was present on the occasion.
Addressing a mammoth public gathering at Dawar, The Tourism Minister said the Gurez tourism festival is a part of the new tourism promotion strategy of the government to attract as many tourists to hitherto unknown natural places.
Expressing optimism about the future of state with regard to tourism growth, the Tourism Minister said peace and harmony was imperative for the multifarious development of tourism and allied sectors and the state has great days ahead.
“Tourism is fastest growing and promising sector in the world and Jammu and Kashmir has been the most favoured tourist destination of International/ National visitors”, Mir said adding that there was a need to develop this lucrative industry in the state on the European pattern
The 2 day-long festival organized by Tourism Department with the aim to highlight the virgin tourism potential of Gurez in and outside the Country. During the festival days different tourist related activities carried out at various tourism spots with focus to highlight leisure, adventure, river and eco-tourism besides art and culture of the Valley.
On the occasion, various colorful and scintillating cultural programmes were presented by the theatre artists, school and college students and local artists. The main attractions of the occasion were Gurezi Folk Dances and music, songs besides rafting, cycling, zorbing, tracking has mesmerized the audience and received applause by everyone.
Highlighting the tourism potential in Gurez Valley, he asked the people of the area to build paying guest houses, hotels, restaurants and related infrastructure with advanced facilities so that adequate accommodation besides other related facilities could be made available to the visiting tourists. “To divert the tourists towards Gurez-Tulail valley’s’ we need to attract them towards our unexplored destinations and such type of festivals help a lot in showcasing these destinations”, Mir asserted.
Mir said the abundant multi tourism potential of the area needs to be explored and it was the right time to explore this fully adding that various initiatives have been taken up to upgrade the tourism infrastructure in Valley. He said besides creating tourist related infrastructure facilities worth crores of rupees, the Centre in principal has agreed to provide funds to the tune of Rs 8 crore to the State government for upgradation of tourist related infrastructure facilities in Gurez and Tulail valley. He said the infrastructure facilities at Peer Baba Razdan top would be also upgraded and way side amenities would be also created on way to Gurez adding that necessary directions in this regard have given to the concerned authorities to prepare project reports for allotment of funds.
The Tourism Minister stressed on protecting the environment and ecology of the area at any cost. He said that the promotion of tourism is also related to good roads. He said that with the upgradation and augmentation of Bandipora-Gurez and Tulail-Drass roads, alternate road connectivity, would certainly help in giving a fillip to tourism, trade and people to people contact. With the completion of these road projects the local made products and other items will get huge exposure in other parts of the country, the Tourism Minister said.
Appreciating the people of district Bandipora for their whole hearted participation in the festival, the Minister said that such overwhelming participation of public supplements government’s efforts in organizing such festivals. He asked the unemployed youth to come forward and establish their self-employment ventures under tourism department’s schemes like opening of hotels, guest houses and other tourism related facilities and opt tourism sector as a career prospective. He announced that trainings in Hotel Management and adventure sports besides incentives would be provided to the local aspiring youths for setting up ventures under tourism sector.
Minister Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Mr Nazir Gurezi in his address hailed the government efforts to focus keen attention to promote the God gifted tourism potential of Gurez. He said that “this is part of the State government’s plan to introduce virgin tourist destinations to visitors”, and added “this is a beautiful place, still unknown to tourists and we want people to come here”. The scenic valley lies on the historic Silk Route and connects Kashmir to Gilgit and Dras in Ladakh. He said that the natural beauty of Gurez needed to be highlighted to both foreign and domestic tourists. “in the valley of Kashmir, if there is any spot for tourism which should be opened, where beauty exists, where the people are very caring and loving from their heart and are hospitable, then it is only Gurez”, Gurazi said.
The Minister said the state Tourism Department plans to promote the Gurez Valley as a destination for adventure tourism. “Gurez has great potential for adventure tourism, especially white water rafting and trekking would be explored fully to help the local economy by diverting high end tourists to the valley in near future, “Gurezi asserted. He added that it also serves as a base-camp for trekking expeditions to the high-altitude lakes of Kishensar and Gangabal. The swift Kishenganga River is said to be suitable for white water rafting. “We have a unique culture here, a unique language and lifestyle. The architecture too is different from the rest of Kashmir. This will help us attract foreign tourists,” said Gurezi.
Referring to the all-round development of the area, the Minister gave details of execution of several development projects being setup in the remotest and terrain villages worth crores of rupees to upgrade basic facilities besides education and health care facilities for the inhabitants of Gurez. He said being the local representative my first and foremost duty is to develop the constituency and relieve the sufferings of the people adding that day is nearer when Gurez would be a Modal tehsil of the State.
Director Tourism, Talat Parvaz gave details of organizing the festival adding that the aim of the festival is to highlight the abundant tourism potential of Gurez. He said during the festival days varied activities would be carried out for wooing tourists besides highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the valley.
District Development Commissioner, Bandipora, Mr. M.Y. Zargar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. B.A. Khan, Managing Director, JKTDC, Mr. Shameem Wani, District officers, Tour and Travel Operators, tourists and locals attended the festival and evinced the different activities. The ministers also inspected the stalls established by various departments of the district, creating awareness about various welfare and beneficial schemes of the government.