Jammu & Kashmir government planning to develop 14 new tourist spots

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government is planning to develop around 14 new tourist destinations across the state, including Toosa Maidan firing range, recently vacated by the army and Bungus Valley in north Kashmir.

The government plans to develop Toosa Maidan and Bungus Valley as eco-tourism destinations, where local population would also be involved to create infrastructure, without disturbing the environment.

Officials of the tourism department stated that the population living in the meadows or mountains would not be relocated but trained professionally to host the tourists. They would also be provided monetary help to redevelop their mud hutments into guest lodges.

Some of the new tourist destinations proposed to be brought on the tourist map include Sinthan, Mazmooh, Apple Town Chiniwooder, Dudhal, Shrunz, Mantalai, Bani Basoli, Ranjeet Sagar Dam, Nori Chamb, Seven Lakes Rajouri, Burzuhama, and Khanmoh Fossil Park.

According to government figures, around 11.67 lakh tourists visited in 2014, including 27,172 foreigners while in 2015, 9.27lakh tourists, including 2,8954 foreigners visited.