Minister for Tourism and Culture exhorts officers to ensure comfortable stay of Shri Amaranth Yatries in City of Temples

Jammu, May 31 - Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr Nawang Rigzin Jora has exhorted upon the officers to make sincere efforts for providing all basic amenities to Shri Amaranth Yatries at the various transit and lodging centre across Jammu city to ensure their comfortable stay before leaving for their destinations.

Mr. Jora said this in a meeting while reviewing the arrangements for Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2009 at Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IGP Jammu Range Jammu, Mr. K. Rajindra, DDC Jammu Dr. Manndeep K. Bhandari, Director Tourism Mr. S.M .Sawhany, Director Floriculture Mr. K.K.Sharma, RTO Jammu Mr. R.C Sharma, Chief Education Jammu Mr. Suresh Sharma, CEO, Lakhanpur- Sarthal Development Authority Dr. Sat Paul and other senior officers were present.

Mr.Jora took round of the whole yatra Niwas Complex and examined the 400 kanals chunk of land proposed for integrated development of the tourist complex for facilitation of the yatries and setting up of food craft institute, staff quarters, parking site 300 vehicles and said that this proposed complex when completed shall provide all tourist facilities at a single window adding that tourism industry in Jammu province shall get a boost as nearly 4.5 lacks of pilgrims are expected to visit Shri Amaranth cave shrine this year and a portion of them can be diverted towards tourist spots across Jammu province. He said that efforts are on to tap the varied tourism potential in the state by way of creating tourism related infrastructure at the tourist destinations.

Mr. Jora exhorted upon the officers to provide requisite facilities like drinking water, transport, accommodation, healthcare etc. to the yatries at all the lodging sites spread across the city of temples. He also sought cooperation of Jammuites in this regards, adding that the state was expecting unprecedented number of Shri Amaranth yatries and normal tourists. He said that the state was abundantly endowed with pilgrimage tourism potential and all the three regions of the state were rich in cultural and heritage tourism as well and asked for proper showcasing of state’s rich tourism potential so that more and more domestic as well as international tourists were diverted towards Jammu & Kashmir.

Earlier, the Minister also reviewed functioning of Tourist Reception Centres (TRCs) at Airport and Railway station Jammu and said that these need to be strengthened in respect of infrastructure and manpower to provide round the clock services to the tourists and pilgrims pouring in the state. He said that the state was known for its age-old hospitality adding that up keeping this tradition was sure to attract heavy influx of tourists in the state. He also visited Aaprna Asharam at Gandhi Nagar that has recently been taken over by the tourism department.

The Minister chaired a meeting of the officers of tourism department, JKTDC, industrialists, hoteliers, travel agents and representatives of NGO’s and other social organizations and reviewed the arrangements made for ensuing Shri Amaranth yatra. Various issues concerning those engaged directly or indirectly with tourism trade came under discussion. The participants put forth their views for smooth conduct of annual Amarnathji yatra and updating facilities for visiting tourists.