Ensure necessary facilities at tourist destinations

Tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a boom with each passing year while the incumbent administration led by Lieutenant Governor has made it clear that the sustainable development of tourist destinations is its top priority. Jammu and Kashmir, especially the valley is blessed with picturesque places, which have the capability of witnessing the massive rush of people as the spots attract the people from across the globe with its natural beauty. However, the government has been pushing for further increase in the number of tourist arrivals here, but at the same time, it needs to ensure proper facilities at the picturesque places so that the visitors would not be pushed to the wall. The Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Friday held a wrap-up meeting with the World Bank team to discuss the way forward for development of new Tourist destinations in J&K and for promotion of the Handicrafts sector here. The Chief Secretary in his remarks stated that the Government’s focus would be to ensure sustainable development of all tourist destinations so as to boost the tourism sector’s contribution to the sustainable development goals. Nonetheless, the government needs to begin a process to end the sufferings of visitors at these places by ensuring every facility to them. Some of the picturesque places like Aru Valley are still lacking the mobile connectivity facility, which pushes the tourists to the wall. Therefore, the government should work on these issues at the earliest so that the visitors would heave a sigh of relief.