SRINAGAR, JULY 8: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said around 24 million visitors have visited Kashmir by 2024.
The number is far higher than pre-August 5, 2019
In his keynote address, the Lieutenant Governor shared the remarkable development journey of Jammu Kashmir and its emergence as a preferred global tourist destination.
“This conference is a befitting reply to terrorism and reflects J&K’s march towards peace, progress, and prosperity. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, J&K is an unstoppable force and it will continue to flourish,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the phenomenal transformation of J&K’s tourism sector over the last few years.
“God has truly been generous to Jammu and Kashmir. This land, adorned with snow-capped peaks, shimmering lakes, apple-laden orchards, temples, and rolling meadows, is a living canvas of natural beauty, spirituality, and peace. We have strengthened traditional tourism circuits and expanded tourism’s horizon. We have ensured benefits of tourism reach every corner of J&K UT and transform lives. The people of J&K and their warm hospitality make Jammu and Kashmir a truly fascinating tourist destination,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor observed that the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting was a defining moment in J&K’s history and helped in building the brand J&K in the global tourism sector. This was followed by major international and national events which not only showcased our organizational capabilities but presented J&K as a destination for luxury, film, entertainment, and global engagement, he further added.
The Lieutenant Governor also reiterated the administration’s commitment to promote sustainable tourism, under the SPREAD (Strategic Promotion and Revamping of Emerging Alternate Destinations in J&K). This strategy aims to mitigate environmental pressure by diversifying tourist activities to lesser-known and emerging destinations.
“We aim to bring nine emerging destinations on the national-international tourism map and provide direct employment to at least 5 lakh people in the first year, and these destinations will be able to attract high-value tourists”, he added.
We are also exploring ways to develop a Phase Ropeway for Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine to facilitate the old-aged and divyangjan, the Lieutenant Governor further said.
V. Vidyavathi, Union Secretary, Tourism; Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General, Tourism; Gyan Bhushan, Senior Economic Advisor, Tourism; Praveen Kumar Rai, Joint Secretary, MHA; Tourism Secretaries, officials from the Government of India and UT Administration, panelists, and experts were present.