Five hundred crore rupees to boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir

The Central and State Governments will spend 500 crore rupees (111.5 million dollars) in the next four years for developing Jammu and Kashmir tourism infrastructure under the Prime Minister?s reconstruction plan for the state. According to Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Director Farooq Shah, this money will be spent in improving the existing infrastructure and developing new ones.

"We are going to spend 500 crores in the next 4 years through development authorities and the department of tourism. The money will be spent to develop tourism infrastructure like road connectivity, good sanitation for the tourist resort. In next 4 years, we will have a good infrastructure here," Shah said. Two surveys conducted by CNBC and Thomas Cook (India), the travel agency of international repute, have revealed that Kashmir continues to be the premier dream destination for the foreign as well as domestic tourists. According to a national survey conducted by Thomas Cook, 26 percent of the polled audience still preferred Kashmir as their lifetime dream domestic destination irrespective of prevailing and unexpected situations in the valley.

The result of the survey has acted as a fuel to the machinery of local tourism industry and overcome losses in the past. "Thank God that Kashmir is still the dream destination. We hope it will remain a dream destination in future as well. People say that Switzerland is beautiful but Kashmir is even better then that," said Mohammad Azim Tauman, Chairman Houseboat Owners Association. Tourists opine that there is no better place in the country like the Kashmir Valley. Keeping in view these trends, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has now decided to launch new vigorous advertising campaign within the country and abroad to promote tourism. Some new initiatives will also be taken to promote winter tourism and adventure tourism in the state. The Tourist Trade Act 1978 will also be modified to make it more relevant and tourist friendly.

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