Srinagar, June 2: The J&K Tourism Alliance (JKTA) today submitted a memorandum to Governor N N Vohra pleading that tourism infrastructure should be expanded and modernized in the Valley.
A JKTA delegation led by its chairman, G M Dug apprised the governor about the problems the tourism players face in the Valley.
The delegation pointed that air flights were operating for limited hours during the day at the Srinagar International Airport (SIA).
They suggested that flights, as also charter flights, should be allowed to operate for extended hours at the SIA.
The delegation also stressed the need for taking up requisite steps to speed up security check up system at the Airport. 
The governor said there was a need to draw up imaginative, short and long term plans for the promotion of tourism. “It is necessary to develop adequate wayside facilities, eating places, public conveniences, areas for pitching tents, parking vehicles, etc, while simultaneously ensuring that all these facilities are designed to be in harmony with the natural surroundings and ecology of the area,” he said.
He said there is also need for working out attractive packages to lure a significant portion of the pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and the Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji to various tourist destinations in Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu.
The delegation thanked the governor for allotting quota of helicopter bookings to the local tour and travel operators and the hospitality industry of the state with a view to extending economic benefits of the Yatra to them.  

Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST