Srinagar, May 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the administration is now focusing on ensuring a safe and incident-free Amarnath Yatra.
Chairing a meeting with the Hoteliers Association at the Civil Secretariat, the Chief Minister said the tourism sector has been badly affected.
"Tourism has been hit quite badly. We hardly have any tourists coming in the summer season. We are now focusing on the Amarnath Yatra. We want the Amarnath Yatra to pass incident-free. We want the devotees coming for the Amarnath Yatra to go back safe and sound after their visit," Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister held the meeting to discuss the concerns of the Hoteliers after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which had significantly impacted tourism in the region.
CM Abdullah assured the various stakeholders present at the meeting that the government is fully committed to supporting the sector and will carefully consider their valuable suggestions.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister called for the formulation of a comprehensive and well-thought-out tourism revival plan, according to an official release.
"This is my suggestion for your consideration that we thoughtfully shape and finalise this plan without undue haste," he said. He proposed that a robust tourism revival strategy be jointly developed with the Tourism Department after the conclusion of this year's Shri Amarnath ji Yatra, added the release.
The package, he said, should extend support to hotels, houseboats, shikaras, taxis, handicrafts and explore innovative models such as unique shopping festivals on the analogy of those in Dubai.
"We should also consider engaging artists for cultural performances, restarting the laser fountain shows, and introducing other attractions to enhance the tourist experience," the Chief Minister added.
(With agency inputs)
