Srinagar, April 27 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Sunday asked local traders and tourism players to help make Kashmir a prime tourist destination.
In a bid to promote business and tourism-related activities, Sayeed held detailed deliberations with all stakeholders to strategise a plan for maximising the gains in the coming tourist season, asking them to become partners in improving development indices so that a sound edifice is laid for a better and smarter state.
Sayeed said he has taken a firsthand review with top officers to improve the delivery mechanism of basic amenities to the people and take measures to host the tourists in a big way this season.
Asserting that a favourable atmosphere is a pre-requisite for improving the state's economy, he said that time has come to showcase the state as a prime tourist destination for which trade and tourism players will have to make tangible efforts.
"Flood of 2014 has set us back in all parameters of growth and progress and if we do not act now, we will fall back on all indicators of prosperity," he said.
Sayeed said his government is vigorously pursuing with the central government the release of special relief package for restoring damaged infrastructure and compensating victims who suffered damage to their dwelling units and business enterprises.
During the deliberations, the hoteliers' representatives announced 40 percent discount in off-season, after July 15, to attract the visitors to the Valley.
On the issue of pending claims of the victims with various insurance companies, he assured the business and tourism houses that the government will take up the matter with the concerned companies on priority.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Haseeb A. Drabu said the World Bank (WB) tranche of Rs.1,500 crore will be released to the state during the next few days which will help in permanent restoration of damaged infrastructure.
"Till such time the centre sanctions and releases the special dispensation, the WB tranche will go a long way in starting the long-term restoration process," he said.