About the Department

The Department of Tourism, J&K is the main developmental, promotional and regulatory arm of the J&K Government. Tourism sector is the prime driver of the economy of Jammu & Kashmir. As such, the Department of Tourism has a significant role to prepare and project the UT of J&K as a preferred Tourist destination in the country. The Department has two provincial directorates one each at Jammu and Srinagar and tourist Offices at all tourist resorts of the UT. In addition, there are 6 promotional offices outside the UT, one each at New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata.. Besides there are 20 area specific tourism development authorities in UT each headed by a chief executive officer, actively involved in harnessing the tourism potential and creation of tourist infrastructure in the areas of their operation. The department has also administrative control on two corporations, some clubs and five societies (see lists on home page). The role and objectives of tourism is as under.

Roles

  • Overall planning and execution of schemes for the development, up-gradation and improvement of the tourism infrastructure in different parts of the UT.
  • Support to the private sector industry in the form of incentives for setting up various tourist facilities as well as for promotion and marketing of their products and services.
  • Promotion and marketing of various tourist destinations and products of the UT.
  • Regulation of the travel-trade by enforcement of provisions of J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act.

Objectives

  • Creation of tourism related infrastructure through public investment.
  • Creation of tourism related infrastructure through Incentive regime for Private investment.
  • Regulating the development of Destinations in a planned manner keeping the carrying capacity, ecological balance and environmental concerns in mind.
  • Developing skills among the youth to make them employable in tourism Sector as service providers.
  • Organizing various festivals and events and participating in travel marts, road shows and FAM tours at national and international level.