Udhampur: Jammu and Kashmir government has plans to develop Sanasar, which holds a huge potential for being a major draw for thousands of tourists visiting the State every month.

Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora while unveiling Government’s strategy for developing the tourism infrastructure of Sanasar recently said the area is blessed with potential that could bring it onto the tourist map of the country.

Laying the foundation of a J and K Tourism Development Corporation restaurant at Sanasar, the minister said that providing much needed tourist infrastructure would be a priority for these areas.

He said the demand and need for a modernized restaurant at the destination was a related one.

Being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 16.35 lakh, the restaurant would be completed within 45 days.

Speaking about the holistic macro-level development of the region, Jora revealed that tourist huts and other related infrastructure at Sanasar are being upgraded. They are being renovated with inbuilt facilities for tourists.

Tourism, Jora said, is the mainstay of development in Jammu and Kashmir. He advised local residents and officials to take maximum benefit of nature's bounty.

The minister advised local youth to engage themselves d in the tourism-related industry, which offers plenty of opportunities in the form of tour operator, travel and adventure sport guides, guest houses and other self employed units.

The minister said that the precious paintings made by renowned painters would be preserved and installed in some prime art gallery of Jammu for the public.

Among others MLA Ramban, Ashok Kumar, Managing Director, J and K Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, Satesh Nehru, Additional District Development Commissioner Ramban, Shabir Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Patnitop Development Authority, Dr. Mohd. Akram Malik, Deputy Director Tourism Jammu, Arvind Kotwal, and other officers of Patnitop Development Authority and other Departments were present on the occasion.