JAMMU, Apr 4: Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta today convened meetings to review and strategize the promotion of adventure and pilgrimage tourism in the Jammu region, where adventure tour operators of Jammu Division, promotion of river rafting in Reasi, Doda and Kishtwar districts was discussed.
The Director Tourism along with Joint Director and other officers engaged with adventure tour operators registered with the Tourism Department.
They raised pressing concerns, including the lack of basic amenities such as washroom and changing facilities at rafting sites, inadequate signages for social media promotion and poor road conditions affecting accessibility.
Aijaj Kaiser, Joint Director Tourism, who is known for his efficiency & knowledge, proposed forming an association of registered adventure tour operations to improve coordination and ensure a structured approach to rafting tourism.
He further suggested standardizing rafting rates on per-ride and distance basis to ensure transparency and avoid confusion for tourists, adequate publicity through social and print media, adequate basic amenities and registration and permission process to be simplified and fully online.
In another meeting, deliberations were held on the structured development of the Katra-Shiv Khori circuit & the meeting was attended by the Joint Director Tourism, CEO Patnitop Development Authority, Deputy Director Publicity and ADT Katra with stakeholders joining online.
Now, it is a question on Director, Tourism that, if he called CEO, PDA in the meeting, had he bothered to ask a single question over withholding the future of revising Master Plan of PDA? Had he bothered to see, whether Building Bye Laws of MP of 2000 are justified to allowed in the year 2025 despite lapse of 24 years & which is in open violation & non compliance of J&K Development Act of 1970 & causing hinderances in new developments in the jurisdiction of PDA, Director, discussed with CEO, PDA in the said meeting, otherwise what issue of PDA Director discussed in the meeting?
Above all it is to mention here that LG is the Chairman of the PDA & Chief Secretary is the Vice chairman & despite that Master Plan, which is the main base & root of developments is still hanging in fire & one can expect, how the development of Patnitop can take place, which is the best Tourist Spot of Jammu Province, raised questions on concerned officers working & needed to be acted upon.
The discussions focused on promoting pilgrimage, heritage, sightseeing and adventure tourism along the circuit. Stakeholders emphasized that structured development of circuit would significantly enhance tourist footfall and contribute to the overall growth of tourism in the region.
Just to speak in media, it added that the Tourism Department reaffirmed its commitment to addressing stakeholder concerns and ensuring a well-structured, safe and enjoyable tourism experience. These strategic initiatives will not only boost adventure tourism but also enhance pilgrimage and heritage tourism further strengthening Jammu’s position as a premier tourist destination.
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