Time to reopen closed tourist spots in J&K: CM
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that he will raise the issue of closed tourism destinations with Home Minister Amit Shah during his upcoming visit to the Union Territory.
Responding to a supplementary question of Congress MLA Nizam Uddin Bhat, Abdullah said it is correct that some tourist destinations are still closed post the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year.
“I believe the time has now come to reopen them. From the Government’s side, discussions with the Government of India on this issue are ongoing. The home minister is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days, and I assure the House, and especially the MLA from Bandipora, that this issue will certainly be discussed with him,” the chief minister, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said.
Nearly 50 tourist destinations were shut down by the LG administration after terrorists shot dead 26 tourists at Baisaran in the Pahalgam area on April 22 last year.
However, over a dozen destinations reopened in September, but many continue to remain closed. Earlier replying to the question raised by National Conference MLA Ali Mohd Sagar, Abdullah said since the rules governing the of registration or renewal of all tourism units have been framed in 1978 as such, the tourism department is in the process of revising the Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Trade Rules with a view to further simplify, rationalise and streamline the registration and renewal framework for all tourism units.
“The proposed revisions aim at making the entire process more transparent, user-friendly and strictly time-bound, thereby reducing procedural delays and improving ease of doing business in the tourism sector across the Union Territory,” the chief minister said.
He said the tourism sector here remains a major source of both direct and indirect employment for local youth.
“The Department of Tourism is actively promoting the sector through the regular organisation of promotional events and festivals across the UT. These initiatives create diverse livelihood opportunities by engaging event managers, transport operators, digital content creators, hospitality workers, guides, artisans, and other service providers. Such activities also contribute meaningfully to skill entrepreneurship development, sustainable employment generation among the youth,” the chief minister said.
Abdullah said the department outsources various assets like the cafeteria, huts, parking areas and entry tickets, which provide direct and indirect employment to youth regularly.
