Inaugurates 4-day Bhaderwah Tourism-cum-Cultural Festival 2012.
BHADERWAH: The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare today said that with the restoration of peace and harmony, tourism industry was reviving f
ast in Jammu and Kashmir.
“During the turmoil the state tourism suffered great setback and as the situation has improved thick and fast, the tourism has been revived and tourists from across the country and globe are coming towards Jammu and Kashmir†Azad said after inaugurating 4-day Bhaderwah Tourism-cum-Cultural Festival 2012, here.
Minister for Tourism and Culture Mr. Nawang Rigzin Zora, MP Ch. Lal Singh, MLA Bhaderwah Mr. Mohammad Sharief Niaz, MLA Doda Mr. Abdul Majid Wani, , MLA Inderwal Mr. G.M Saroori, MLA Ramban Mr. Ashok Kumar, MLA Banihal Mr. Vikar Rasool Wani, MLA Chenani Mr. K.C Bhagat, MLC Mr. Naresh Kumar Gupta, besides DDC Doda Mr. Farooq Ahmed Khan and other District and Sectoral officers were present on the occasion.
Expressing optimism about the future of state with regard to tourism growth, he 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 visitorsâ€, Mr Azad said adding that there was a need to develop this lucrative industry in the state on the European pattern.
Elaborating further, he said that there was a need to expand the carrying capacity of tourism by building adequate tourism infrastructure to attract high end tourists.
Highlighting the tourism potential in Erstwhile Doda district, 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 erstwhile District Doda we need to attract them towards our unexplored destinations and such type of festivals help a lot in showcasing these to a good number of people†Mr. Azad asserted.
Mr Azad said that Bhaderwah was world famous for its pilgrimage sites, and it was the right time to explore the pilgrimage tourism potential of the area.
Listing the measures taken for promotion of tourism in the erstwhile District Doda, he said short term, medium term and long term development projects related to tourism development are afoot in the area.
Mr. Azad informed that to develop Herbal Tourism in the area a project was initiated under AYUSH scheme for which a Herbal Garden was established at Drudhoo Bhaderwah where Medicinal/ Aromatic plants were planted to ascertain the scope of cultivation of various species of medicinal plants. He said the programme was successful as the Herbal Garden has started producing Herbal Medicinal products like Lavender Oil. He said now the seeds of these Medicinal plants will be distributed among the farming community for large scale production of Herbal Medicines which would directly benefit the people and boosts the socio-economic condition of the region.
Earlier, Mr. Azad was accorded a rousing and overwhelming reception by the people at various places enroute to Bhaderwah.
Mr. Azad also inspected under construction Sub- District Hospital Bhaderwah coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 24.65 crore. He directed the concerned executing agency to speed up the remaining finishing work of the Hospital so that poor people get the best medicare facility in the area.
Later, Mr. Azad laid foundation stone of community hall at Bhaderwah to be constructed out of MPLAD fund at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.86 crore.
