Jammu, February 12 The Jammu and Kashmir government is examining a proposal regarding the notification of new areas suitable for tourism across the Union Territory, said Minister for Agriculture Javid Ahmad Dar on Thursday.
Responding to a question on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the legislative assembly here, Dar said that several prominent locations in the Bani constituency of Kathua, such as the Bani town, Lowang, and Sarthal, are also being considered by the government for tourism promotion.
Responding to a supplementary question, the minister said that the government is committed to taking all necessary steps to strengthen the tourism infrastructure across the Jammu division.
"Efforts will be made to establish rest houses and tourist huts at key tourist destinations to enhance facilities for visitors and promote sustainable tourism," Dar said.
Under the direction of the chief minister, he said that a winter carnival was conducted on February 8 in Bani, in the Kathua district, as part of the government's broader initiative to promote tourism in the region.
The event was held to showcase the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and tourism potential of the area, he said.
The minister reiterated the government's commitment to exploring and developing new tourist destinations to boost the local economy, generate employment, and position Jammu and Kashmir as a premier travel destination.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Abdullah, who is also in charge of the tourism department, said that his government has undertaken a series of measures to boost tourism in the Jammu province, strengthen cyber security infrastructure, and advance heritage conservation efforts.
In his written reply to queries raised by BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi, Abdullah said that multiple initiatives have been launched following the terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025 to restore travellers' confidence and increase tourist footfall.
Under digital outreach, J&K Tourism has intensified the marketing of destinations through social media platforms and publicity literature. The department has also participated in 10 dedicated national and international travel marts to showcase attractions and generate visitor interest, he said.
To further promote the region, celebrity familiarisation tours were organised between June 28-30 and July 2-6, 2025, in the Jammu Division, he said, adding that Bollywood personalities interacted with frontline workers, affected families, and stakeholders to generate positive publicity.
Regarding heritage conservation, the chief minister said that restoration work at the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex in Jammu city is in progress and is expected to be completed in a phased manner within the next three years.
He also said that certain heritage sites in Jammu have been declared protected monuments under the Jammu and Kashmir Ancient Monuments Preservation Act.
The chief minister said that over Rs 29 crore – Rs 16.19 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 12.81 crore in 2025-26 (till February) – were spent on tourism promotion in the Jammu division, compared to over Rs 27.46 crore – Rs 14 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 13.46 crore in 2025-26 (Till February) – in the Kashmir division.
