Srinagar, March 29 (Scoop News) – Expressing optimism for productive tourism season this year, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday emphasized the need for up to the mark preparedness to receive tourists and extend best service to them.
“Jammu and Kashmir State is a tourist state where the development and growth of tourism has direct bearing on the economy”, he said adding that one successful year of tourism last year opened hundreds of avenues of economic activities and livelihood generating ways and means for the people in the State particularly in the Valley.
Declaring Srinagar Tulip Garden open for visitors this morning here, the Chief Minister said that the grandeur, serenity, colourful tulip beds full of flowers, beautiful Zabarvan mountain range overlooking the garden and world famous Dal Lake at its base mesmerizes tourists and marks the spring beauty of the Valley. He said the garden this year has been opened a week earlier so that tourists present here could visit the garden.
Omar Abdullah said that the arrival of over 13 lakh tourists to the Valley during last year has revived the glory of this sector. “Our efforts this year should be to rope in more visitors from the country and abroad. Germany has already withdrawn the advisory regarding travelling to the Valley”, he said expressing the hope that other countries would follow the suit.
The Chief Minister said that the tourist facilities and services should match the natural beauty Jammu and Kashmir is epitome of. He said that cleanliness at tourist places should be the benchmark in the upkeep and maintenance of tourist facilities. “Your services should be qualitative and hospitality to the highest degree so that the tourists carry its impression along with the scenic splendour of the State and lure them to visit here again and again”, he told the stakeholders, traders, houseboat owners, hoteliers, transporters and others associated with the tourism sector.
Omar Abdullah said that his government is concentrating fullest attention to the upliftment of the tourist infrastructure in the State. The private players in the trade are being provided with package of incentives to upgrade the service level and tourist facilities. He, however, emphasized on conservation and protection of tourist resorts adding that the creation of facilities should not temper with the environment and natural grandeur of the tourist places.
The Chief Minister said that peace is imperative for productive and successful tourism as such all of us have to contribute positively in peace maintenance. “Tourists want to relish and enjoy the beautiful places in the Valley and stay here in a tranquil atmosphere. We have to provide them suitable and calm atmosphere so that they extend their stay”, the Chief Minister said.
Minister for Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma and Minister of State for R&B, Javid Ahmad Dar were present on the occasion among others.
Director Floriculture, Sunil Misri stated that more than 3.20 lakh tulip bulbs of eight new varieties have been sown in the garden this year. He said in all we expect over one million tulips blooming in the garden which is spread over an area of 35 hectares and tulip cultivation is on over 12.5 hectares.