In order to push tourist influx to the state, secretary tourism RigzianSampheal has written to all the state governments and union territories asking them to encourage their citizens to travel to J&K by availing leave travel concession (LTC) facility.
According to a statement, secretary tourism said the maximumtourists to J&K are from country’s budget class, with a large number ofthem working as government employees, who can avail such facility. The LTCfacility for the government employees has been extended till September 25,2020.
“As this scheme is in vogue, we have written to tourismboards, departments of all the states and union territories in the country andurged them to encourage their employees to visit J&K by availing the LTC facility. We want to capitalise on this facility to themaximum as the size of the government sector in the country is very large whocan visit J&K state on LTC scheme,” said Sampheal.
Union ministry of personnel, public grievance and pensionshas in relaxation to Central Civil Service Rules of 1988 extended LTC toJ&K allowing government servants to travel J&K by air till September2020. Secretary tourism has issued letters seeking to promote Jammu, Kashmirand Ladakh divisions of the state as preferred holiday destinations amongemployees in the country.
Sampheal said LTC scheme has helped attract a good number ofgovernment employees in the past as well. He said the department of tourism haslaunched a multi-pronged promotional campaign within and outside the country toattract travellers to the state.
“We have organised road shows, attended major travel marts and travel fairs across the country where we promoted J&K’s tourism products. We want to reach out to government employees also so that they can travel to J&K for holidaying with their families,” said Secretary Tourism. “Tourist arrivals have again picked up and we are hopeful of better tourism season ahead,” he added.