75 Kashmir villages to be transformed into tourist villages

Ground Report | Srinagar| Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha said that 75 villages of the UT known for historical, picturesque beauty, and cultural significance to be transformed into tourist villages.

LG said that the youth-led sustainable tourism initiative will strengthen rural economy & community entrepreneurship, empowering youth & women by providing direct & indirect employment opportunities.

Highlighting the objective behind the initiative, the Lt Governor observed that the UT Government is adopting best practices recognizing the uniqueness of each village and showcasing the landscapes, indigenous knowledge systems, cultural diversity & heritage, local values & traditions, besides encouraging film shooting and offering financial incentives as well as ensuring a digital platform to all these villages.

Apart from promoting Eco & Agri-Tourism, Traditional Performing Art, and Adventure Tourism for creating a rural tourism circuit, the Lt Governor called upon all stakeholders, government departments, PRIs, and Local communities, to work as a single unit for seamless implementation on the ground.

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The Lt Governor suggested four broader areas for promotional activities including Farm Stays, Eco-Tourism, Wildlife Tourism, and Tribal Tourism. Simultaneously, there is also a need to train the youth in public-private, community partnership models, he added.

Today, J&K is at the top position in the country in terms of Tourist Influx. In the month of July, around 10.5 lakh tourists visited J&K and the figure reached 11.22 lakh in August. I hope and believe that soon, villages of the UT will make their way in the list of the top 10 tourist villages of the country, the Lt Governor said.

The Lt Governor advised the CEO Mission Youth to work in collaboration with the tourism department for utilizing the resources available under Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan (PMRP), where 45 villages of Jammu and Kashmir were planned to be developed as tourist villages.

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