JK Minister inaugurates International Rafting C’ship

Scoop News February 24, 2013

Jammu, February 24 (Scoop News) - To promote adventure tourism in Jammu region and to catch the attention of adventure lovers, a 4-day long International Rafting Championship commenced from today in river Chenab for the first time.

Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir inaugurated the event which was organized by the State Tourism Department.

The International Rafting Federation has provided technical supervision of the event and recognized J&K Rafting Cup to be awarded to the winner team, besides J&K Rafting Association is also providing technical knowhow during the event.

Director International Rafting Federation Joe Alice and rafting expert, Ms. Natali are the judges of the event.

Rafting teams from Australia, Nepal, Czech and Slovok republics, besides Rafting teams of Army, J&K Police, Kashmir Rafting team and Jammu rafting team are participating in the event. A 10-km river patch from Thathri to Prem Nagar Doda has been identified for the safe and adventurous rafting competition during the event.

Addressing a public gathering on the occasion, the Tourism Minister said that government is keen to restore the tourism glory of the state and exploit its potential in adventure tourism. He said adventure tourism holds great potential to generate jobs for the state's people, especially the youth adding that it should also receive focused attention along with conventional and pilgrim tourism in the Chenab Valley which has a good rafting potential.

The Minister said that it is the first ever international rafting event in river Chenab to explore new adventure tourism potential in Doda and attract international teams and tourists to this place.

The Minister said that about one hundred unemployed youth of Doda district would be trained in river rafting skills with the objective that they adopt this as profession and generate income for livelihood. He said the government would provide easy loans with subsidy to these youth for managing own rafts for promotion of river tourism in the belt.

Minister for R&B, Abdul Majid Wani in his address said that focused thrust is being also given to develop new spots besides infrastructure upgradation in Jammu region. He said way side facilities are being also created in Chenab Valley besides promoting leisure, pilgrim and heritage tourism.

Minister of State for Home and Tourism, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the programmes and policies initiated by the government for all round development of the people of the state especially those who living in hilly and remote areas. He said Chenab Valley is rich in tourism and to explore it fully, the government has already setup a development authority in the area.

MLA, Inderwal, G. M. Sarori, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Talat Parvez, Director Tourism, Jammu, R. S. Mehta, District Development Commissioner Doda, Assistant Director Tourism, Tariq Ahmed, Officers of Tourism Department, District Officers besides tour and travel operators of Mumbai, Delhi, representatives of national and international media and a large number of locals attended the event.

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