Jammu, February 15 (Scoop News) -Asserting that the Government is determined to make Jammu region a hub of varied tourism activities, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, has said that possibilities are being explored to promote water sports, adventure and golf tourism in a big way in the region.
The Minister was chairing a high level meeting held to assess the feasibilities for water sports activities in various water bodies of the region.
Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Legislators Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Jugal Kishore, Jagdish Raj Sapolia, Baldev Raj Sharma, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Atul Duloo, Special Secretary Tourism, Altaf Hussain, Managing Director, JKTDC, Satish Nehru, Director Tourism, Jammu, R. K. Verma, Director IITTM, Deputy Director Tourism, Kotwal besides Chief Executive Officers of Kishtwar, Mansar-Suransar, Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authorities and representatives from National Institute of Water Sports, Ministry of Tourism, GOA was present in the meeting.
The State Government has entrusted the job of assessing the feasibility of water sports in the region to NIW, Goa, which gave a power point presentation on the subject in the meeting.
During the meeting a detailed discussion was held on various aspects of exploring this vital tourism potential in the region besides deliberating upon certain suggestions meant for making the project more innovative and result oriented.
The meeting was informed that the National Institute of Water Sports (NIW) has done a comprehensive survey of existing water bodies in the region and found that there is vast potential in these spots. The draft recommendations and feasibility report prepared by NIW has covered all the major water bodies like Mansar Lake, Ranjit Sagar Reservor, Akhnoor, Bagliar and Dul Hasti Dams.
The objective of the survey is to tap the potential of these water bodies for adventure and recreational water sports in Jammu region. The development of water sports like rafting, boating, ferry services in the region will be done in accordance with the feasibility of the assessment of NIW.
Director NIW said that if this potential is developed with a planned strategy coupled with technical expertise would help in further raising the tourist graph, domestic as well as foreign, in the region thus giving a considerable fillip to State’s economy besides generating employment for the local populace.
Jora asked the concerned authorities to forge strong coordination with all concerned agencies so that water sport activities in the region could be promoted in a big way. He directed the authorities to prepare plans for creation of requisite water sports infrastructure so that necessary funds would be released for launching these activities in various water bodies of the region. He said in this regard public-private partnership would also be encouraged and necessary technical trainings besides other logical support be given to the desired persons.
Referring to varied tourism potential in the state, the Minister said that our state is blessed with abundant natural resources and all efforts should be made to exploit this opportunity to boost tourism industry.