Umaisar Gull Ganie
Srinagar, Sep 06: In 10 districts of Kashmir, 115 villages have been brought under ‘Tourist Village Network’ programme recently and people of these areas are hopeful that the areas will be developed as tourist destinations on ground not only on papers.
The programme is part of the Tourist Village Network program under Mission Youth to ensure balanced and equitable development of tourism sector across the length and breadth of J&K.
The initiative launched under the Mission Youth “will work towards giving a facelift to the 115 villages that are already famous for their historical background, picturesque landscape and cultural importance,” an official said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Mission Youth Jammu and Kashmir Dr Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary released the list of selected 181 villages while 115 are from Kashmir valley and rest from Jammu division.
As per figures available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Baramulla is having highest number of villages under the programme which is 19, followed by Budgam having 16, 14 north Kashmir’s Kupwara, while 13 each in Pulwama and Ganderbal, 11 in district Bandipora, 9 each in Kulgam and Anantnag and 6 each in Srinagar and Shopian.
As per officials, the initiative of Tourist Village Network “has the potential and propensity to mobilize the diverse geographical and socio-economic landscape of the union territory”.
Meanwhile locals from different areas which were recently designated as tourist destinations said that as of now no development has taken place on ground despite having potential.
People from Shaar Shali area of Pulwama said that area has very much potential but as of now it hasn’t got any attention but they are now hopeful that area will be developed now.
People from Panzath area of Qazigund which is just one kilometre from Jammu Srinagar national highway said that so far hundreds of promises made with them that area will be developed as tourist destination have proved hoax ground.
Thanking the government for including the area in the list of new tourist destinations expressed their hope that the area will be developed as a tourist destination.
Locals from other areas have also hoped that this time development will be on ground not on papers only which they have been witnessing since decades.
“There are several regions in the union territory which despite having greater tourism potential, have not been able to garner requisite attention due to infrastructural bottlenecks, officials said.
Destinations which lag behind in the sphere of tourism infrastructure, can overcome the downsides by introducing homestays as a means of accommodation facilities for the tourists which do not require heavy investment,” they said—(KNO)
