Dr. Itoo conducts extensive tour of upper Rafiabad areas; Says Deptt. exploring possibilities of tapping potential of lesser known destinations
BARAMULLA, JULY 10: The Department of Tourism is planning to bring areas like Kitter Daji, Munde Daji, Bosian and other areas on the tourism map of Kashmir and in that process a detailed project report is being prepared by the department.
In this regard, Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr. GN Itoo today took a detailed tour of upper Rafiabad areas during which he visited Kitter Daji, Munde Daji, Kungroosa, Dangiwacha and other areas to assess on spot feasibility and tourism potential of these areas. He also took an on spot assessment of various trekking routes and other adventure avenues available at these places.
Interacting with the locals at various places, Director Tourism said that the department is identifying, exploring and developing so far hidden tourist destinations to provide tourists with more options for recreation. This, he said, would immensely improve the local economic activity at these destinations.
Highlighting that the department is providing constant handholding of tourism stakeholders, Dr. Itoo said that the department is doing hand holding of tourism stakeholders on all fronts so that they are able to cope up with the challenges of post covid business environment.
The Director further said that to deal with the challenges of ongoing pandemic covid-19, the department has completed the vaccination of employees of department and other allied workers besides more than ninety percent stakeholders have also been inoculated till date. He added that the department also organized a capacity building programme on implementation of covid protocols recently for all the stakeholders associated with the tourism sector.
Remarking that the administration is providing all possible help to the tourism stakeholders, Dr. Itoo said that the department recently organized a workshop for tourism stakeholders for availing the benefits of incentives under the new industrial policy.
During the visit, the director specifically appealed to the youth at these destinations to come forward and take the benefits of various incentives of starting tourism units for which, he says, the department will extend all possible help.
Later a team of officers visited Asar Shrief Mohalla Khawaja Sahab, Baramulla, Gurdawara Tatiyana Sahib, Shalbug, Shrine of Hazrat Syed Mohammad Janbaaz Wali (R.A), Khanpoar and Shelputri Temple took a review of various works under pilgrimage tourism at these places.
The Director was accompanied by Deputy Director Tourism, Dr. Ahsan-ul-Haq Chisti, Deputy Director (M&W) Tourism, Bashir Ahmad and senior officers of the tourism and other allied departments.
