While speaking in the Tourism Conclave cum falicitation function organised by Hotel & Restaurant Association,Katra in association with Federation of Hotels,Restaurants,Industries & Commerce of Jammu Region at Welcom by ITC Hotel,Katra wherein Divisional Commissioner,Jammu and Vice Chairman Shiv Khori Shrine Board Ramesh Kumar,CEO,SMVD Shrine Board,Anshul Garg,Director Tourism Jammu Vivekanand Rao,Deputy Commissioner,Reasi & Vice Chairman SKSB Babila Rakwal,Addl.CEO SMVDSB Navneet Singh,Additional DC Reasi Abdul Sattar,Asstt.Commissioner Reasi,Sanjay Badyal,SDM Katra Angrez Singh,Dy,SP Katra Kuljit Singh,President HRAK/HRICJR Rakesh Wazir,Chairman HRAK Shyam lal Kesar,Former Minister Jugal Kishore Sharma,Owner Welcome by ITC Katra Chander Gupta/Aaradhna Gupta,President Katra Chamber & Sr.Vice President HRAK Virender Kesar,Vice President Meena Wazir ,President Hotel & Restaurant Association of Patnitop Kushal Magotra,Rajesh Sadhotra,Ravi Nag,Arun Sharma,Rakesh Sharma,Sunil Dogra,Kuldeep Sharma,Gardhari lal etc. were prominantly present,Ramesh Kumar said that every effort would be made to increase the stay of the 1 crore visiting pilgrims of Vaishnodevi ji and for that comprehensive Tourism development of whole Jammu Region & Shiv Khori & Vaishnodevi in particular will be made and for that process of roping in the renowed players of India and abroad is in progress and especially for making of theme Park at Katra,consolidated development of Shiv Khori etc.
He further said that Shiv Khori ropeway,Helicopter Service from Katra to Shiv Khori and back, and cleanliness of whole Katra town would be his priorities.
Rakesh Wazir in his welcome address besides appreciating the efforts of earlier CEO SMVDSB Ramesh Kumar during his tenure in Shrine Board elaborated in detail about the “ Tourism Conclave on increasing stay of Vaishnodevi Pilgrims ” and said that major stake holders of Tourism including Department of Tourism,SMVD Shrine Board,Shiv Khori Shrine Board,Divisional & District Administration are requested and called particularly in this conclave to strategise an increase in the Tourism Potential of J&K and to chalk out a strategy of tapping one crore figure of Vaishnodevi ji in such a way that whole J&K may become the Tourism hub of India and for that comprehensive up gradation of places of Tourist interests around Katra is required and for that immediate attention towards increasing the Tourism figures of Shiv Khori,Patnitop,Bhaderwah,Sanasar,Baba Dhansar,Nau Devian,Siar Baba,areas back side of Vaishnodevi hills etc. is required.
He also raised the issue of registration & renewal of Tourism registrations and said that on the pattern of Industry self registration on Udhyam Portal is the need of the hour.
Anshul Garg while speaking on the occasion said that his priority would be to give complete facilities to yatries and he will take the full feed back from the local public of Katra before proceeding ahead and increasing the stay of the yatries would be there in his agenda.
Vivekanand Rao said that Department of Tourism is making its Tourism Strategies in such a way by roping in Divisional & District Administrations besides SMVD Shrine Board,Shiv Khori Shrine Board and other authorities in such a way that by taking their full support the full Tourism potential is explored and Navratra festival,Bhim Garh Fort Festival,Shiv Khori Festival,Patnitop Winter Carnival ,Heritage Festival Ramnagar,Jammu Mela are the best examples of that and full potential of the tourism would be explored this way.
Babila Rakwal said that Reasi district has huge Tourism potential and its places of Tourist intrest like Vaishnodevi ji,Shiv Khori Shrine,Nau Devian,Baba Dhansar,Siar Baba,Bhim Garh Fort are attracting lacs & lacs of people and a little push to that can increase it further to many folds and co-ordinated efforts of all is the need of the hour.
Shyam lal Kesar & Jugal Kishore Sharma raised the issue of developing of places of Tourist intrests around Katra and said that Katra has huge good hospitality infrastructure and its full exploration is the need of the hour and keeping in view the safety of the pilgrims and huge infrastructure at Katra only that number be sent upwards for Yatra to Vaishnodevi ji which is prescribed.
Virender Keasr,Rakesh Sharma,Rajesh Sadhotra,Ravi Nag too expressed their views in the programme.
Before concluding both Ramesh Kumar & Anshul Garg were facilitated for their good works in their respective fields by HRAK/FHRICJR.