PATNITOP: The Tourism department is going to organize international Rafting Championship at Pul Doda from Feb 24 with participation from across the world.
Minister for Tourism, G.A. Mir, informed this while addressing the valedictory function of Winter Carnival, organized by the State Tourism Department in collaboration with Patnitop Development Authority (PDA), at Patnitop, on Thursday.
Among others, MLA Chenani, Krishan Bhagat, District Development Commissioner, Ramban, Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Director Tourism, Robin Singh Mehta, Superintendent of Police Ramban, Anil Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Surat Singh, Additional SP, Udhampur, Benam Tosh, Officers of various departments, local people and tourists in large numbers were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the Jammu and Kashmir state is blessed with abundant natural splendor which the government is tapping to the optimum by developing new destinations besides creating latest tourism infrastructure for domestic and foreign tourists. The adventure pilgrims and sports tourism are also the focus area of the government which have tremendous scope in the state, he added.
Spelling out measures being taken for promotion of adventure tourism in the state, the Minister informed that government is organizing a 4-day international rafting championship in river Chenab near Pull Doda from February 24, 2013. He further said that Rafting teams from abroad have arrived in the state to participate in this mega event besides teams from various states of the country are also coming to take part in this rare event.
The Minister said that Patnitop is one of the famous hill and health resort of the country and all efforts are underway to attract more and more tourists to this famous destination. Holding of Winter Carnivals at picturesque Patnitop is a sincere effort of the government to showcase the tourist potential of the state, he said.
The Minister said that government is committed to develop tourist potential areas in Jammu region by creating necessary tourism related infrastructure so that tourists visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine could be diverted to these natural spots to boost tourism industry in the region. For the purpose, he said that Sudhmahadev and other famous pilgrim destinations of Jammu division are being popularized to boost pilgrim tourism.
On the occasion, Mir also released a book titled Map My India Jammu & Kashmir containing detailed information about pilgrim destinations, heritage sites, monuments, complete state road networks, hotels and restaurants, monasteries, detailed maps of Jammu and Kashmirs most popular trip, treks and tourists circuits.
The cultural programmes in collaboration with J&K Academy of Art & Culture Languages depicting rich cultural ethos of the state, presented on the occasion, were highly appreciated by the audience. The stalls put up by the Department of Handloom and Handicraft Udhampur in the exhibition also attracted the tourists.
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