Srinagar – Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha emphasized the significance of peace for the growth of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, expressing confidence that the region will soon secure its place among the top 50 tourist destinations worldwide, attracting global travelers.
Sinha made these remarks during the inaugural session of the G20’s third Tourism Working Group meeting held in Srinagar on Tuesday. Notably, while China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia were absent from the high-profile gathering, representatives from 17 other member countries actively participated.
In his address, Sinha strongly criticized Pakistan for exporting terrorism to the border region. He highlighted the efforts of the administration in empowering the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which led to the isolation of the terror ecosystem that thrived with support from across the border. Sinha credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for effectively combating terrorism and opening up limitless possibilities for growth and peace in the union territory.
He emphasized that tourism in Jammu and Kashmir also reflects the multi-religious and multi-cultural ethos of India.
Sinha stated, “Tourism cannot thrive in isolation. While the economic aspect of tourism is crucial, including the need for robust infrastructure, sound policies, and an effective and responsive administration, equally fundamental to me is the fact that peace and the happiness of the people bring warmth to the hospitality that we Indians inherently possess.”
He further noted that Jammu and Kashmir currently stands among the developed regions of India in terms of various measurable milestones, and the administration is committed to promoting both economic and social prosperity for the people.
Under India’s G20 Presidency, Sinha expressed his delight that the G20 Tourism Working Group is focusing on five interconnected priority areas: green tourism, digitalization, skills, tourism MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), and destination management. He highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir is already working on several of these priority areas, such as green tourism, skills development, tourism MSMEs, and digitalization.
Sinha emphasized that in the post-pandemic era, five key building blocks will play a crucial role in promoting environmental awareness, protecting the ecology, improving the economy, enhancing livelihoods, and ensuring inclusive growth for all stakeholders.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a record number of 18 million tourists last year, with the tourism sector contributing 7 percent to the region’s GDP. Efforts are underway to identify and promote 300 new destinations for green tourism, support small and medium enterprises, empower youth and women entrepreneurs, and involve local communities in promoting sustainable tourism.
Sinha also highlighted the revival of ties with Bollywood after nearly four decades, with the J&K UT administration launching a film policy in 2021 to attract more investments in the film sector. He mentioned that over 300 movies were filmed in the region last year, leading to a positive transformation in the lives of the local populace.
Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy, who was present at the event, expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with G20 nations to promote sustainable tourism globally, including within domestic circuits.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the development progress in Jammu and Kashmir, citing the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge, which surpasses the height of the Eiffel Tower.
By focusing on sustainable tourism and capitalizing on its natural and cultural heritage, Jammu and Kashmir are poised to achieve their goal of becoming one of the world’s top 50 tourist destinations, attracting visitors from around the globe.
