JK govt declares 2010 as "visit Kashmir" year

After fall in militancy, Jammu and Kashmir government has declared 2010 as "Visit Kashmir" year to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the state.

After fall in militancy, Jammu and Kashmir government has declared 2010 as "Visit Kashmir" year to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the state.

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"We have declared 2010 as 'Visit Kashmir' year for the domestic and international tourists. We hope this would be the best year to record the arrival of largest number of tourists," Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said.

Unveiling the road map of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir in the New Year, Jora said, "We are positive that it would be our best year and hope that violence will touch zero."

The state has recorded a fall in militancy as terror violence was lowest last year in the past two decades. There were no suicide attacks. Civilian killings had come down to just 72 and militancy related incidents to 470.

To attract more and more tourists, state tourism department will hold road shows, Kashmiri festivals and participate in all tourism and trade marts, Jora said.

Last year, 82 lakh pilgrims visited cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi, 8 lakh pilgrims visited Shiv Khori, 4,75,050 tourists, including 23,636 foreigners, visited Kashmir valley, near 4 lakh pilgrims visited Amarnath cave shrine and 78,573 tourists, including 41 thousand foreigners, visited Ladakh region.

"We will be hosting six major Kashmiri festivals in Bhopal, Indore, Surat, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata apart from taking part in tourism and trade fairs in major cities," Jora said.

"This year focus would the second tier cities which are potential tourist areas", the Minister said.