Jammu and Kashmir government will have safety guidelines for adventure activities being undertaken by different business concerns in the state to promote tourism in state.
“Adventure tourism is very important component of our tourism industry but unfortunately our state does not have any set of regulations or guidelines to conduct these activities,” secretary Tourism Rigzin Samphel told Greater Kashmir.
“To begin with, three months ago we have drafted guidelines and shared the same with public for responses and suggestion. Tourism department also sought feedback from agencies connected with adventure tourism and the members of public, in order to have an exhaustive rule book for adventure activities in the state,” he said and adding, “Many suggestions came in, which were ably securitize and being compiled in shape of proper manual guidelines for adventure tourism to streamline and structure our industry.”
Tourism secretary further said these guidelines would include registration of tour operators, giving due permission to them for undertaking adventure activities as well as setting up a standard of the bare minimum requirements for equipment to be used, safety rules and the rulebook for any adventure tourism agency to perform the activities in J&K.
“The guidelines will monitor activities within the framework of Key Performance Indicators, which define the role of promoter of adventure tourism activates, their trainers, safety parameters for tourist and insurance,” he said.
Tourism Department will focus on exploring and promoting new destination.
“Our main challenge is to promote new destinations in Jammu. I recently toured Bani-Basholi circuit along with Ranjit Sagar Dam area, where we see lot of scope of promotion. Similarly, the Mughal Road via Poonch- Peer Ki Gali has several destinations which need to be known to the world. Our main stress is to identify new destinations and then symmetrically promote it on larger scale for benefit of entire industry and the state,” said Rigzin Samphel.
There is immense scope of border tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and to promote same in Jammu region. Plans are to develop the India-Pakistan Suchetgarh border on the lines of Punjab’s famed Attari-Wagah border.
“In RS Pura of Jammu we have Suchetgarh while other side has Sailkot, just few kilometers away. “We had a big project and in coming days this will become huge attraction for tourist coming to Jammu,” the secretary said.
The plan is to develop state-of-the-art facilities at the Suchetgarh Border, steps will be taken to focus on other tourism-related projects.
He further said that government will also going to organizer a big festival at Suchetgarh Border to promote it as product.
Secretary Tourism said Jammu city is important historical town and under pilgrimage tourism project, government plans to complete restructuring and face-lifting of heritage Raghunath bazaar.
“It’s a very good initiative for city tourism and an amount of 2 crore have been sanctioned for that only, when the work commence, more money will be put in the project as per requirement,” he said.
He added for revival of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, Chief Secretary had recently sanctioned an amount of 65 crore. He further said for artificial lake at Tawi River will be taken up under Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP) besides this city soon have first cable car from Peer Kho –Mahamaya- Bahu Fort, which will attract more visitors.