CEO LBDDA calls stakeholders’ meet to explore Kupwara’s tourism potential

Kupwara, Aug 7: Soon after assuming the charge, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lolab Bungus Drangyari Development Authority (LBDDA) on Monday said a case study will be done and suggestions from various stakeholders will be considered to boost and explore the tourism potential of Kupwara district.
“We will do a field and file study. We will look into the demands of people, and stakeholders as well. Then we will chart out a strategy to boost and explore the tourism potential of the district,” CEO LBDDA Ghulam Jeelani Zargar said.
Kupwara, one of the most remote districts of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory sharing its boundary with neighboring Pakistan, is emerging as a tourism hub of the valley. With the opening of border tourism, an ample number of opportunities have come the way to explore it to a greater extent.
In the northern belt of the valley, Kupwara continues to host a large number of tourists mainly those referring to offbeat destinations to find solace. Places like Keran and Teetwal have opened up for visitors offering them native experiences with homestay facilities and different local delicacies.
Bungus, an offbeat destination known for natural beauty, is also hosting a huge number of tourists from parts of the region and India as well.
These earlier no-go zones are now known for their hospitality towards tourists and growing with time to offer better. The tourism industry in the district has also paved the way for youth and many families to earn a livelihood. It has also resulted in boosting the economy bringing smiles all across.
Aimed to further boost the tourism potential of the district, the government back then constituted Lolab Bungus Drangyari Development Authority (LBDDA). It aims to furthermore explore the opportunities in the tourism sector.
With LBDDA getting its permanent Chief Executive Officer after a wait of many years, it has ended the past practice of additional charges to different district-level administrative officials.
With hopes ignited high, the tourism stakeholders in the district believe that the fulfilment of the CEO post will open up several opportunities and explore the sector to a greater extent.
On Monday, the CEO LBDDA issued an order asking all the tourism stakeholders which include DDCs, BDCs, Health, Media, Transporters, Traders Federation, Hotel & Restaurant owners, NGOs, Gujjar Pahari Welfare Forum, Social media influencers, and Chairman Homestay Association to participate in a meeting to be held on August 9.
The meeting, as per the officials, is aimed to ensure the best tourism practices and utilization of potential. As per the communiqué, the meeting also aims to deliberate on boosting and exploring border tourism in the district.