TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Union Tourism Ministry has announced Rs 100 crore financial package for flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir while it also assured that it would render all types of assistance to put tourism in the Himalayan state back on track.
The announcement was made by Union Tourism Minister (Independent Charge) Shripad Naik on the sidelines of a two-day conference on ‘education and community’ at Kala Academy on Saturday.
While conceding that the floods had severely affected the Valley that thrives on tourism, the Centre, Naik said, will also examine the loss to tourism and accordingly release relief fund.
“Many places are still flooded. Once the situation is normalized, we will carry out a complete study of the total loss to the tourism sector and the number of people employed in this industry who are affected. Accordingly, the Prime Minister’s Office will offer special financial package,” he added.
J&K suffered the worst floods in five decades with its primary source of revenue for generations – tourism – becoming the first casualty.
The State was just bracing up for the tourism season even as the snow-capped regions there have been permanent attractions for tourists.
According to figures released by the J&K government, the state attracted 13.6 million domestic tourists last year with another 60,845 were international visitors.
