SRINAGR- Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat to review the progress of pending projects of tourism sector in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Advisor reviewed the progress of works on various projects and deliberated upon the issues and bottlenecks scheme wise executed by JKPCC. The officers were directed to ensure the effective follow-up of these projects in order to achieve results in time bound manner.
During the review development of Hazratbal under PRASAD scheme was threadbare discussed. Advisor directed for expediting of works and officers were instructed to clear impediments on war footing basis.
The projects at Hazratbal include Multi level mechanized car parking at Hazratbal, Shopping Kiosks (Bingri Market) and Public Convenience block. Advisor fixed the timeline for completion of the development of Hazratbal and directed the officers to complete the project by 31st of August. He directed them to adhere to the fixed timeline.
Regarding the development of Anantnag – Pahalgam – Daksum circuit, the Advisor fixed the timelines for each component and directed the officers to expedite the projects so that completion date fixed for each projects is achieved. The Advisor fixed 30th of November to complete the whole project.
The Advisor also fixed the timeline for completion of Tourism facilities at Tral within 20 days. It was given out in the meeting that 80 percent of the work on Tourist Reception Centre Tral has been completed and rest of the work will be completed within the set deadline.
Regarding the development of tourist facilities at Anantnag, it was given out that 60 percent of the work on various components has been completed and efforts are on to complete the rest of the work. The development of tourist facilities at Anantnag include Tourist Reception Centre Harnag, Tourist Facilitation Centre, landscaping and beautification among other things.
Advisor also reviewed the progress of Himalayan Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme and directed the officers to expedite the progress on each component. The projects of Jammu division that came up for discussion include Comprehensive Mansar Rejuvenation Plan, Bikram Chowk Railway Station, Purmandal and Uttarbehni and other projects under PMDP.
Advisor further directed the officers to monitor the progress of works on weekly basis for effective results and submit progress reports.
He also passed on directions to the Directors of both the divisions to take review of the Development Authorities on regular basis as they are an important part in the development of tourism infrastructure. He directed them that they should inoculate themselves with all the details on the ground and prepare roadmaps accordingly.
The meeting also called for strict adherence to the laid down Standard Operating Protocols already issued by the Government, keeping in view the present COVID-19 pandemic while executing projects at the site of work.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Tourism, Managing Director JKPCC, Director Tourism Kashmir, Director Tourism Jammu, Managing Director J&K Cable Car Corporation and General Manager JKPCC.
Hafeez asks Tourism unit heads to be innovative in promoting, preserving destinations
Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Sarmad Hafeez on Friday impressed upon all the heads of tourism units and bodies in Jammu & Kashmir to come up with innovative ideas to promote and preserve their destinations in particular and the UT in general.
Chairing a high-level review meeting here today, the Tourism Secretary asked the CEOs and Resort Officers to be innovative leaders to promote their destinations in the tourism market while preserving the ecology, environment and heritage of their destinations and properties. In this regard, he emphasized on optimum use of manpower and their capacity building so that employees and workers are utlilised in a professional manner as per the need and the demand of the tourism market.
Sarmad Hafeez also directed the officers to update all the information related to tourist destinations on their websites for being the interface between the visitors and the Tourism department where people get information about the places, destinations and other spots related to tourism. He said owing to its technical and professional nature, the tourism sector was selected as a priority sector by the government for inoculation so that as the COVID situation improves tourists are welcomed back without any hesitation. He directed 100% inoculation of the staff by each unit at the earliest.
The Tourism Secretary impressed upon the officers for the timely disposal of cases pertaining to the promotions and career advancement of their employees besides moving towards an online system of file movement. He also asked the corporations to hold regular board meetings as prescribed in the board rules.
MD JKCCC, Majid Khalil Drabu; Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr. G N Itoo; Director Tourism Jammu, Vivekanand Rai; MD JKTDC, Nisar Ahmad Wani; Director SKICC, Javed Humanyun Bakshi; Chief Executive Officers of all the Tourism development Authorities and senior officers of Tourism Department were present in the meeting.
Earlier, in a separate meeting with several travel operators, the Secretary Tourism impressed upon them to further diversify their product portfolios by including some innovative packages, routes and destinations. He specifically asked them to revive the concept of locally conducted tours of destinations during which the tourists would get familiarized with local culture, cuisine and people while enjoying the beauty of the place. He also asked them to explore the idea of reviving helicopter safari service to meet the demands of niche tourist segments and in the process explore new and virgin places like Gurez, Bangus valley, Gangabal, Seven lakes in Poonch and Nun Kun peaks etc.
Sarmad Hafeez expressed satisfaction that 80 per cent of the stakeholders were vaccinated during the latest vaccination drive. He, however, urged the stakeholders to ensure that the remaining 20 percent of the stakeholders are also inoculated so that as the COVID situation improves, tourist arrivals come back to their previous levels and tourists feel the confidence of visiting Jammu & Kashmir.
The Tourism Secretary informed the tourism stakeholders that the Department has embarked on an ambitious plan of capacity building of stakeholders in the post COVID scenario during which around four thousand tourism workers would be imparted training.
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