Advisor Baseer Khan asks tourism officials to tap tourist potential along IB

Jammu: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, has lined up a series of activities for the tourism department with a view to promote border tourism along the International Border (IB). He directed the officers for identification of certain locations along the IB to be covered under the ambit of border tourism.

Advisor issued these directions while chairing a meeting held with the officers from tourism and Border Security Force (BSF) for identification and development of certain locations for promotion of border tourism in Suchetgarh, Samba and other places.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez; Inspector General, BSF Jammu, N S Jamwal; DIG, BSF, S S Sekhon; Commandant BSF Ajay Suryavnish, Director Tourism, Jammu Raj Kumar Katoch and other officers.

Advisor directed the tourism department to gear up efforts for development of border tourism. He directed them to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of projects after taking inputs from all the stakeholders for the development of tourist spots in Suchetgarh, Baba Chamliyal and other areas in a time bound manner. He said that the DPR shall encompass all the facilities which would attract tourists.

Advisor said that Jammu region has tremendous border tourist potential as numerous scenic spots dot the landscape.

“We need to tap the potential that has remained untapped so far and enhance our facilities for the tourists at Suchetgarh and other places,” he said.

Advisor said that Suchetgarh, which is a border meeting post, should come up as a wonderful attraction for tourists. The other places of historical and cultural importance including Baba Chamliyal and Gharana Wetland would be included in tour circuits for promoting tourism in the Union Territory with the twin aim to boost the economy of border dwellers besides increasing the footfall of tourists, he added.

He said that Gharana wetland in R S Pura will be developed for ‘bird watching’ where a lot of migratory birds visit especially during winters, after obtaining permission from wildlife department. Another point of major attraction for border tourism will be creating selfie points at the zero line that will be identified by BSF and developed by tourism department, he asserted. He said that the inputs received from BSF should be incorporated in the DPR.

I G BSF, N S Jamwal, while speaking on the occasion, said that Suchetgarh has vast potential to be developed as a vital tourist destination adding that Baba Chamliyal in Samba along the IB holds a lot of potential for promoting religious tourism.