Jammu hotel body seeks cross border,pilgrim tourism

“We pointed to the panel that there should be Promotion of border tourism at Suchet Garh on the line of Wagah Border and shrine of Baba Chamliyal in Ramgarh,he said.

JHRBA also called for boosting the economy of the region and generating employment by undertaking measures to promote border,pilgrimage tourism in the region.

Stressing that Jammu region had vast potential for tourism promotion,he demanded bringing twin lakes of Mansar and Surinsar,holy spots of Purmandal and Uttarvani,historic Raghunath Temple,Budha Amar Nath and Nagali Saheb Gurudwara among other on the country’s tourism map.

Anand also pointed out to Expert PM panel that although tourism was declared an industry by the State government in 1995,the benefits and incentives available to the industry in the State have not been extended to the tourism industry.

He also rued that all the tourism revival packages,rehabilitation and incentives granted by the State and Central Governments had remained confined to Kashmir valley.

“We stressed the need for the extension of these packages to tourism industry in Jammu and demanded that Hotel industry should be granted a complete Tax holiday in respect of VAT and service Tax at least for five years”,Anand said.

Besides,JHRBA demanded that Jammu airport should be expanded and developed for international flights.