8 million tourists visit Vaishno Devi Shrine in J&K

  January 29 (Scoop News) – J&K Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Rigzin Jora on Friday made specific reference to the tourism and pilgrim potential of Ladakh and Jammu regions. “The pilgrims that visited Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine touched 8 million this year and next year, this will go even higher,” Jora said, adding that more areas like Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Poonch-Rajouri have been taken up for development on priority by creation of separate Tourism Development Authorities.

Mr Jora was speaking in a function of SATTE-2010, at Pragati Maidan, here today in New Delhi. Union Minister for Tourism, Kumari Selja Chief Minister Delhi, Ms Sheila Dixit and Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel, and J&K Minister of State for Tourism  Nasir Aslam Wani, were also present on the occasion. On the occasion, Mr. Jora and Mr. Wani presented mementos to Kumari Selja and other dignitaries on the occasion

Rigzin Jora said Kashmir is as safe as Mumbai, Delhi or any other part of the country. He said the State is adequately equipped to cater to the rush of tourists this season and special emphasis will be given to adventure and golf tourism in the State. “Royal Spring Golf Course (RSGC) is one of the best in Asia. We successfully organized a number of golf tournaments last year and hopefully, this year many more will be held at RGSC and at the health resorts of Pahalgam and Gulmarg,” the Minister said.

            He also informed the gathering that Gulmarg Gandola Project is being further renovated and expanded in a bid to attract more and more tourists. The Minister said the opening of the grand Mughal Road will open more vistas for tourism promotion in the State.

.Earlier Union Minister for Tourism, Kumari Selja inaugurated  SATTE-2010, at Pragati Maidan,urging both domestic and overseas tourists to visit J&K. She  called upon the State Government to create adequate tourism infrastructure to cater to the increased arrivals this season.

            Kumari Selja also released J&K Tourism calender-2010.

            Referring to J&K as paradise on earth, the Union Minister called upon travelers to enjoy scenic splendour of Kashmir, adding the Government will provide enough handholding to facilitate the stay of the visitors.  

J&K Minister of State for Tourism Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani,  in his address, said time has come to fully explore the tourism potential and outlined strategy the State Government is adopting to boost tourism in the State.

            Highlighting the significance of domestic tourists to visit J&K in large numbers, the Minister said they are as significant as foreign tourists for the State. He assured the Union Tourism Minister that every possible step will be taken to facilitate tourists’ stay in the State. “The Government has created a sound mechanism to make tourists comfortable and a well-established network is in place,” the Minister said.  

            Later, Secretary, Tourism, Government of India, Mr. Sujit Benerjee gave a brief resume of tourism development, adding in SATTE there are 185 exhibitors, 145 organizations, 90 countries and 23 states that participated. He said the event, held annually for the last 35 years, has been held in India after 17 years at the initiation of Mr. Vivek Berry, Organizer SATTE – 2010.

            On the occasion, Mr. Jora and Mr. Wani presented mementos to Kumari Selja and other dignitaries on the occasion.

            The function was attended by Union Tourism Department and Tourism Departments of all representing States, buyers, sellers and exhibitors.

            Later, artists of Jammu Kashmir and Gujarat presented a colorful cultural programme which was enthralled the audience.

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