Jammu, Dec 26 (IANS): Over 1,000 students and volunteers Thursday participated in a heritage walk in Jammu and Kashmir's winter capital, Jammu.

Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister G.A. Mir flagged off the heritage walk from Amar Mahal to Mubarak Mandi. He said the intention of the state government in organising the walk was to showcase Jammu city as a leisure and tourist destination.

The minister said that with increased tourist influx, Jammu and Kashmir was fast recapturing its position as the most liked of Indian states as a tourism destination.

He said tourism had contributed immensely toward the growth of the state, adding that multiple beneficial aspects of domestic and international tourism have special relevance to the socio-economic development of the state.

Jammu city as a pilgrim tourist destination has the highest potential in the state. Over 10 million pilgrims come to Jammu city each year en route to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra town of Jammu region.