Srinagar, June 10: Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora said the government was encouraging private players for setting up tourism ventures in J&K.
 He said lucrative incentives, soft loans besides other logical support were being provided to the unit holders for promotion of their ventures in tourism sector.
 He said collective efforts by government and civil society are yielding good results, with the Kashmir Valley set to witness tourism boom. The Minister was talking to representatives of Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation at a meeting here today. He said better hospitality is imperative for boosting tourism trade in the State. Jora said exploitation of tourism trade always remained top priority of the government, adding that development of hidden potential spots in the state, besides upgradation of infrastructure facilities received focused attention of the government during last over 2 years.
 The Minister said that the government is outsourcing it assets to generate employment at tourism spots. He said increase in air flights from Srinagar International Airport besides air connectivity from Leh to Srinagar would be taken up with Centre on priority so that the tourists visiting Leh would also be diverted towards Valley.
 Jora said that cheating and bargaining with tourists from any person should not be allowed at any cost, adding that efforts of enforcement wing of tourism department have been activated to check such menace.
 He said this being would be strengthened further soon and asked the tourist trade stakeholders to comply the rules and regulations in vogue letter and spirit so that no tourist feel any cheating and inconvenience while going back to their native land.
 The Minister said that concerned authorities have been directed to ensure displaying of rates on each item whether it would be handicrafts, handloom or boarding and lodging charges of Hotelwalas for facilitation of tourists.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST