Under Modi, J&K will soon be among top 50 destinations in world: Union minister Jitendra Singh

He was speaking at third tourism working group meeting of G20 delegates

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS : Chenab bridge, which is the world’s highest railway bridge, and Chenani-Nashri tunnel, which is India’s longest highway tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel, are turning out to be major tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday. He was addressing the G20 delegates on the second day of the third tourism working group meeting at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC ) in Srinagar.

The Chenab bridge is located at Kovri in Reasi district of Jammu. The bridge, higher than the Eiffel Tower, will be thrown open for traffic by early next year. The engineering marvel will connect Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.

Singh maintained that the five priorities in the third tourism working group constitute the key building blocks for accelerating the transition of the tourism sector and achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goals by 2030.

He said the theme of India’s G20 Presidency—'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' or 'One Earth, One Family, One Future'—is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad.

The meeting was inaugurated by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh in the presence of minister Singh, Union Minister for Tourism G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Defence and Tourism Ajay Bhat. At least 60 delegates from G20 countries and nine non-G20 guest countries arrived in Srinagar on Monday to attend the event.

Jitendra Singh said under India’s G20 presidency, the G20 tourism working group is focusing on five inter-connected priority areas that will provide a roadmap for tourism as a tool for achieving sustainable development goals. He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir will soon find its place in the top 50 destinations in the world and that it will be on the travel bucket list of global travellers.

He said after a long pause of almost four decades, J&K has revived its relationship with Bollywood and launched a film policy in 2021 to attract more investment and make Jammu Kashmir the most popular film shooting destination.