Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday emphasized the government’s commitment to empower youth in border areas such as Karnah, Keran, Machhil and Gurez by equipping them with vocational skills to promote tourism-driven economic growth.
The Chief Minister, who also holds Tourism Department, stated this while replying to a supplementary question from MLA Karnah, Javid Ahmad Mirchal, regarding the promotion of tourism in border areas like Karnah.
The Chief Minister remarked that Karnah has immense tourism potential and stressed the need to explore it further.
“We believe that there is potential for tourism. We need to explore that potential. Recently, festivals were organized in Karnah—the Border Festival and Yoga Festival. The purpose is to let people outside Jammu and Kashmir know about Karnah’s tourism potential and its culture. Because of such initiatives, we have started to see a gradual increase in tourism. For this reason, local people should benefit from tourism,” he said.
The CM said the tourism department has started registration of paying guest houses and homestays in the area.
“For now, in Karnah, we have registered six homestays, and five in Teetwal. Now, I request the MLA to help us in this. There is no point in bringing tourists if there is no place to host them. We do not want to build massive hotels there. If big hotels are built, local people will not benefit from them,” he said.
“At present we need to focus more on homestays. For this, MLAs should help us and involve local people in this,” he said.
Earlier, replying to the starred question, the Chief Minister stated that Karnah region is known for its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage and strategic location near the Line of Control (LoC), he said.
He said Teetwal, Karanoo in Nawagabra, and Budnambal villages possess natural beauty and tourism potential.
“These areas offer breathtaking landscapes, lush meadows and have cultural significance, making them attractive destinations for tourism. These areas have the potential for nature tourism, adventure tourism, and cross-border heritage tourism,” he said. He stated that the Department of Tourism has taken several initiatives to bring these villages onto the tourist map.
“In order to promote pilgrim tourism in Karnah Constituency, the J&K Tourism Department has projected the construction of ‘Yatri Niwas’ at Sharda Temple at Teetwal, Kupwara, along with a cafeteria,” he said.
CM said that the construction of Yatri Niwas at Sharda Temple at Teetwal, Kupwara, along with a cafeteria is currently in progress, with the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) underway. The project cost is estimated at Ra 150 Lakh.
He said the Border Tourism Festival was organized by the Tourism Department in border areas to promote tourism.
“The festival was held at Teetwal in September 2022 and featured cultural and musical events, an ATV rally from Kupwara to Teetwal, nature photography sessions, trekking, camping, and horse riding,” the CM said.
He added that Yoga Festival was organized by the Tourism Department in collaboration with other departments in the Teetwal area of the Karnah constituency on June 21, 2024, to promote tourism in the area.