Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar Oct 3: Tourism sector is set to bloom in Kashmir as the government has received proposals from industrialists for building three five-star hotels in the valley.
An official said that investors have shown willingness to invest in 18 sectors including education, health, agriculture, tourism, IT, handicrafts, food processing units, pharmaceuticals, skill development, milk, poultry and wool, infrastructure and real estate, herbal and medicine plants, film sector, renewable energy, and others.
“Among them the government has received proposals for building three five star hotels in the valley. Government is identifying the land where these investors can build the hotels. It will be a major boost to the tourism sector in the valley,” the official said.
Over 20 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir in the first eight months of this year creating new job opportunities for people.
“Hotels in Kashmir are not able to accommodate all tourists during the peak tourism season. There is a need for several five-star hotels having over 200-300 rooms each,” the official added.
There are 70 hotels at Gulmarg, which have over 3000 rooms. Similarly, there are 110 hotels at Pahalgam and more than 6000 rooms.
The Centre has also unveiled a new scheme to bring about radical transformation in the existing industrial ecosystem of J&K which will enable it to compete with other states/ UTs of the country. The scheme is for the duration of 2021-22 to 2036-37 with financial outlay of Rs. 28,400 crore.
The scheme aims to give fresh thrust to industry and services led development of J&K with emphasis on job creation, skill development and sustainable development by attracting new investment and nurturing the existing one.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced a new industrial developmental scheme (IDS) with a total outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to encourage new investment and to take industrial development to the block level and far-flung areas of the Union territory.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had said, “My objective is maximum utilization of industries, manufacturing, services sector, village industries, handicraft, tourism and technology to create more jobs in rural areas of Jammu & Kashmir because I believe there is vast yet untapped talent pool in our villages waiting for an opportunity.”
