J&K will host record 2 crore tourists this year: L-G Sinha

"Last year 1.88 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir and I expected more than two crore tourists to visit this year. We will establish new records and break them,” Sinha told reporters in Srinagar

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that around two crore tourists are expected to visit the Union Territory this year. “More than 300 film shoots were done here last year and this year, we will break that record as well. Our problem is that we compete against our own records. Last year 1.88 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir and I expected more than two crore tourists to visit this year. We will establish new records and break them,” Sinha told reporters in Srinagar outskirts after laying the foundation stone of a Private Medical College and hospital.

The hospital and college will be set up by Milli Trust, a Bihar-based NGO, run by Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Dr Fayyaz Ahmad. The trust runs several colleges and institutions in Bihar. Officials said that more than 150 kanals of land have been alloted to the Trust by Jammu and Kashmir administration in Sempore in Srinagar outskirts.

This is the same place where the Dubai-based EMMAR group had laid foundation stone for a shopping complex on ten thousand square feet of land. L-G said that due to the flexible land and investment policy, investors are investing in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that around 70,000 crore investment proposal have been received by the UT administration.

Sinha said that students from Jammu and Kashmir go to other states and countries to study medicine. "Now they can study here. It is an effort towards a new beginning," he said. The LG said that more than 300 film shoots were shot in Kashmir last year and this year more films will be shot. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said he expected more than two crore tourists to visit Jammu and Kashmir this year, breaking the all-time record for the arrival of tourists in the Union Territory set last year.

Sinha was interacting with reporters after laying the foundation stone of first of its kind private hospital and medical college in Kashmir. “There are many hospitals and medical colleges in public sector but I think in the private sector, there was no hospital or medical college of this size. Today that vacuum has been filled and I congratulate them for setting up 1000 bed hospital and 150 seat Medical college,” Sinha said.

The LG said with this venture coming up in Kashmir, the local students will not have to go to other states and countries to study medicine. “Our students go to other states and countries to study medicine. Now they can study here. It is an effort towards a new beginning. When investments will increase continuously, it will create more employment opportunities and we can take Jammu and Kashmir on the path of progress and development,” he added.