Though there is nothing new in the promotion of heritage tourism in Jammu & Kashmir but given the fact that heritage tourism is getting the desired attention almost after two decades in Jammu & Kashmir the initiatives taken by the tourism department mark the beginning a new phase of the promotion of heritage tourism. Heritage tourism would by all probabilities attract more and more domestic and as well as foreign tourists across Jammu & Kashmir as tourists show interest in visiting heritage spots even for the purposes of research . The tourism department has started the promotion of heritage tourism with the identification of top heritage sites both in Kashmir and as well as Jammu division but still there are scores of heritage sites which are yet to be identified in different district of both Kashmir valley and Jammu division. Holding events on heritage tourism day is good for furthering the prospects of heritage tourism in Jammu & Kashmir but the preservation of heritage spots is a much bigger challenge for the tourism department. Since many heritage spots are in shambles both in Kashmir valley and Jammu division , measures to preserve such heritage spots if taken urgently would surely boost heritage tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. Never forget that preservation of heritage spots won’t only preserve heritage but it would also be an ideal way to depict cultural diversity of Jammu & Kashmir. Even naives know it that heritage places hugely attract foreign visitors who find a different experience in visiting heritage spots in any part of the world and visits to Kashmir heritage spots by all standards of understandabilities would be a much bigger experience for them.
What matters the most is the fact that heritage sites not only include palaces and gardens but it also includes Buddhist ruins, mosques, shrines as well as Hindu temples. Since tourism and travel operators have been consistently urging the government to declare countryside destinations as heritage tourism sites for a very long time, it is the right time for the tourism department to declare some more heritage places as heritage sites in different districts of both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division.
Since the tourism department has already constituted a nodal organisation to ensure that transport facilities and guides for the visitors remain always available at heritage spots in Kashmir valley, the heritage tourism would get a big boost by such measures. Since most of the heritage spots in Kashmir valley include religious shrines, archeological sites and historical places, both foreign and domestic tourists will find it interesting to visit heritage spots both in Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division. What matters the most is the fact that heritage sites not only include palaces and gardens but it also includes Buddhist ruins, mosques, shrines as well as Hindu temples. Since tourism and travel operators have been consistently urging the government to declare countryside destinations as heritage tourism sites for a very long time, it is the right time for the tourism department to declare some more heritage places as heritage sites in different districts of both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division.
