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Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday said that tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is gradually reviving, and expressed confidence that full restoration of tourist activities will happen within the next 15-20 days.
Speaking to the mediapersons, the minister said, "...After continuous efforts of the Government of India and the state government, tourism activities have started again in Jammu and Kashmir..." He added that the Centre had also initiated plans to link the archaeological grandeur of Kashmir with tourism, as part of its broader strategy to boost cultural and heritage-based travel in the area. "...Along with all this, there was a program to connect the archaeological splendour of Kashmir with tourism... I am confident that tourism will be restored there in the coming 15-20 days..." the minister told. On Thursday, Shekhawat visited the Sun Temple in Anantnag. The Union Minister said that the way tourism has recovered in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 1.5 months, the administration will be able to achieve pre-Pahalgam status by December. "Wapas acche din lautenge...The way tourism has recovered in J&K in the last 1.5 months, we will be able to achieve pre-Pahalgam status by December", Shekhawat told ANI. The tourist flow has reportedly gone down after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. Meanwhile, on June 16, foreign tourists from various countries, primarily Europe, began returning to Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) following the recent incident in Pahalgam. Many have described the region as safe and welcoming, sharing positive experiences and encouraging others to visit. On June 14, in a step towards reviving adventure tourism and promoting Indigenous games among the youth, the Directorate of Sports and Physical Education (DOSPE), University of Jammu, in collaboration with the Indian Army, organised a ten-day Sports Camp at the Bhadarwah Campus in Doda district. The Pahalgam terror attack has severely impacted the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir, and the government is making strong efforts to restore confidence and revive travel to the region. A total of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed in a dastardly terrorist attack in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam valley in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. (ANI)
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