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The Jammu and Kashmir government has launched an international publicity campaign to promote tourism sector in the state.
Education Minister Naeem Akhter said intervening on a question in the Assembly here.
Replying to the question, Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi informed that an expenditure of Rs 3.13 crore has been incurred on advertisements for print and electronic media for the promotion of tourism since 2015.
She said the advertisements have been published in local, national and international magazines, besides broadcast on television commercials on local and national channels and radio for the wide publicity of tourism promotion in the state.
The Minister said Rs 14.75 lakh were incurred on account of air tickets for participation in national travel events.
About Rs 12.66 lakh has been incurred on the inauguration function of Pahalgam club after fulfilment of required procedures, she said.
Sethi said the Department of Tourism has put in place Tourism Incentive Policy, wherein incentives are provided to interested persons for starting different tourism-related units like conversion of residential houses into guest houses, operation of ATVs and tourist coaches.
The department has a publicity committee which finalises the events in which the department participates including national and international travel marts, besides organising local festivals, she added.
The Minister said the department has put in its efforts to explore the offbeat and new tourist destinations in the state from tourism point of view and they would be developed in a phased manner.
“The government is contemplating to bring Wadwan, Mazmooh, Apple town Chini Wooder, Bijbehara, Dudhal Pahalgam, Shrunz, Tangmarg, Burzama, Fossil Park, Khanmoh, Harwan and Tosmaidan in Kashmir valley and Mantalia, Bani-Basohli, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Noori-Chamb, Seven Lakes, Rajouri in Jammu division on the tourism map of the state,” she said.
Replying to another question, Sethi said Rs 2.75 crore have been spent for creation of tourism related infrastructure in Chatroo area of Kishtwar in Jammu region.
She said the government is focusing on strengthening the tourism infrastructure at the existing destinations, adding that presently there is no proposal to develop Famber Meadow Marg in Chatroo tehsil.
However, government would consider to provide road connectivity to the spot in near future and would encourage trekking campus in the area, she said.
Source: financialexpress.com