Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State (IC) for Tourism and Culture, recently inaugurated the National Tourism Day at Ice Hockey Rink Biamathang in Kargil district of the Union Territory of Ladakh. Patel announced the setting up of a branch of Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) there in order to encourage and groom the local talent and realize the dream of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
He added that the narrative to the outside world should go that Kargil is not a war zone rather a peaceful zone. He further added that the Central Government is determined to provide every necessary infrastructure in Kargil, so that an international level skiing and mountaineering institute is established. A thoughtfully planned world class adventure sports destination in Kargil will be established by nurturing local talent through the best of education in the field of mountaineering, skiing, ice hockey and other winter sports, he further added.
The district of Kargil will get to benefit from the good opportunities of winter tourism and it also has the potential to be represented internationally. Patel said the Government is committed to protect the interests of the region and there is a need to train the local players through these skiing courses. He also appealed the students to enroll in the courses of Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) for professional courses in hospitality.
The minister reiterated that the Government of India is fully committed to create international level tourism infrastructure in the district so that a feasible environment is created for tourism and employment opportunities, and to bring back to Kargil its glory.
Rigzian Sampheal, Commissioner Secretary (Tourism) Ladakh said on the occasion that tourism has a large share in Ladakh’s economy and since the Union Territory was established, multiple important decisions were made in this regard. In the erstwhile state, the budget was 12 crore which has now been increased to 250 crores, showing the seriousness of the government towards the development of the sector, Sampheal added.
