Locals should benefit from tourism: Mehbooba Mufti
She also directed promoting religious tourism.
New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, on Thursday asked the tourism officials to device framework for development of various tourist destinations within the state in such fashion that the local people equally benefit from their dividends.
She directed the Tourism Department and allied agencies to focus on the development of catchment areas and people while developing facilities at various tourist spots. This, she said, would enable them to become equal partners and stakeholders in promoting tourism across the State, an official release said.
Ms Mufti who was chairing a joint meeting of various Tourism Development Authorities here also asked their officials to raise as minimum concrete structures at tourist spots as possible and develop each destination “keeping in view its own specialty”. “She asked them to ensure that the infrastructure being raised is in sync with the local culture and architectural pattern,” the release said.
She also asked the CEOs of these Development Authorities to devise packages particularly for school students, adventure lovers and youth from within and outside the state so that the footfall increases. She is believed to have directed clearing of encroachments at these tourist spots with full force and take tough measures to check pollution at these places. She also directed promoting religious tourism.