Record 2.12 Cr tourists visited J&K in 2023: LG

Srinagar, Jan 15: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that a record 2.12 crore tourists visited J&K last year.

Addressing the ‘Baat Bharat Ki’ Conclave-2024 Panchjanya at New Delhi, the LG said, “Post G-20 meeting in Srinagar last year. A record of 2.12 crore tourists visited J&K last year that included 55,000 foreign tourists showing a 350 percent increase.”

He said that the sounds of development had replaced the thuds of bullets in Kashmir.

Sinha said that a plan had been rolled out to dismantle terrorism and its ecosystem in J&K.

He said that despite terrorism being on its deathbed in J&K, the adversary continued with its efforts to fuel terrorism.

“But the plan has been rolled out to not just root out terrorism but to dismantle its entire ecosystem,” the LG said. “The Centre is establishing peace in J&K instead of buying it.”

He said that not the celebrations in big cities of India or Goa but the celebrations at Lal Chowk on December 31 last year went viral on social media.

“At present, nightlife is considered part of the developed cities. Nightlife has returned to Kashmir after a long wait. This signifies that the atmosphere in the region is peaceful,” Sinha said.

He said that despite cold conditions in Kashmir, not just the locals but tourists also enjoy nightlife in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley.

The LG said that soon after taking control of J&K, he abolished the bi-annual Darbar Move exercise which was sucking the State’s exchequer.

“I was surprised to see that files are being transferred from Srinagar to Jammu in 217 trucks and 1000 hotels are booked in Srinagar and 800 in Jammu after every six months,” he said.

Sinha said that Madhya Pradesh was number one in the country in digital services but J&K had surpassed it and was number one in the country as far as online services were considered.

“J&K is also number one in implementing the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) and 866 officers have been fined so far for delaying the public services,” he said.

The LG said that last year 30,500 jobs were provided to the youth in J&K while 7 lakh entrepreneurs started their ventures.

“J&K comprises only 1 percent of the country’s population but continues to be the priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. J&K is the crown of India and is being treated the way it deserves,” he said.