Ahmedabad: Jammu and Kashmir Government
has invited tourists to visit the state and allayed fears
about their safety and security.
"I have come to Gujarat to dispel the myth that J&K is
not safe for tourists. I can assure the Gujaratis that my
state was as safe as any other state in the country," J&K
Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said here
today.
Ladakh, off late, has emerged as a favourite tourist
spot in the state. Of the 36,000 tourists who visited the hill
region last year, nearly half were from Gujarat, he said. "We
expect an increase in tourist inflow in Ladakh this year."
Last year, nearly 10 lakh tourists from across the
country visited Kashmir Valley, including 5 lakh Amarnath
pilgrims, Jora said.
A delegation of 35-40 travel and tours operators,
including J&K Tourism Development Corporation, has come with
the Minister to attract visitors to the state.
With such promotional campaigns we expect the tourist
numbers to go up significantly this year, he added.
About safety aspect, the Minister said "we shall be
standing by the side of tourists in the event of any accident
incident so as to make them feel secure."
-PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 00:38