Muzaffarabad: As the government priorities promotion of tourism in the region, Director General Tourism Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Shahid Hussain visited Neelum Valley on Tuesday to review proposed tourism projects under the 100-day reform programme of the Prime Minister of AJK, aimed at making the tourism sector more active, effective and sustainable.
During his visit, the Director General inspected several important tourism and heritage sites, including Keran along the Line of Control, the historic village of Tehjian and Kail Seri Bela. He also met local stakeholders and community elders to discuss opportunities and challenges related to tourism development in the valley.
In accordance with the directions of AJK Minister for Tourism Abdul Rehman Arain and Secretary Tourism Muhammad Ansar Yaqoob, Raja Shahid Hussain visited the historic village of Tehjian to assess its potential for community-based tourism.
Following the assessment, Tehjian was selected for the promotion of community-based tourism. Local elders briefed the Director General about the village’s historical, cultural and natural significance and offered suggestions on how local residents could be integrated into tourism activities.
Raja Shahid Hussain said Neelum Valley possessed enormous tourism potential because of its distinctive culture, historical heritage and natural beauty.
He said the selection of Tehjian for community-based tourism was aimed at involving local residents directly in tourism activities and creating employment and economic opportunities for them so that local communities could benefit directly from the growth of tourism.
The Director General also visited Kail Seri Bela and identified the area as suitable for the establishment of an ecotourism park.
He said the concerns of local residents and other issues relating to the proposed project would be addressed through consultation with the community. He stressed that the participation of local people, along with protection of the natural environment and ecological balance, would remain fundamental to ecotourism projects.
Raja Shahid Hussain said tourism had been given special attention under Prime Minister of AJK Iftikhar Gilani’s 100-day reform programme. In line with the directions of the Chief Secretary AJK, different locations in Neelum Valley were being identified for transforming the region’s natural, cultural and historical resources into sustainable tourism destinations.
Assistant Director Tourism Neelum Malik Murtaza and Tourism Officer Chaudhry Lal, along with officials of the Tourism Department, received the Director General at Keran.
The officials provided him with detailed briefings on tourism development at Keran along the Line of Control, the historic site of Tehjian and the proposed Kail Seri Bela Ecotourism Park.
They said the promotion of community-based and ecotourism in Neelum Valley would not only showcase the area’s distinctive culture and natural beauty but also create new opportunities for local employment, businesses and economic activity.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring that future tourism development in Neelum Valley benefits local communities while preserving the region’s unique cultural heritage and fragile natural environment.