Jammu: With over 600 heritage sites identified across Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday called for structured engagement with national and international agencies to unlock their tourism potential.
Abdullah was addressing a meeting on heritage promotion and cultural tourism to review measures for conservation and adaptive reuse of heritage assets aimed at boosting tourism in the Union territory.
The meeting was informed that over 600 heritage sites have been identified across Jammu and Kashmir, including both protected and unlisted monuments, reflecting the vast scale of opportunity in the sector, an official spokesman said.
Advocating a holistic and forward-looking approach, the chief minister emphasised the need to blend conservation with commercialisation and community engagement.
“Jammu and Kashmir’s vast heritage wealth must be leveraged as a dynamic engine for tourism and economic growth, while ensuring preservation of its cultural legacy,” he said, stressing the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms and develop heritage-based tourism circuits to posit Jammu and Kashmir as a premier cultural tourism destination.
He underscored the importance of learning from national and international agencies that have successfully undertaken conservation and adaptive reuse of heritage properties.
Abdullah called for structured consultations with such stakeholders to draw upon technical expertise and professional inputs for transforming heritage sites into viable tourism assets.
The meeting also discussed in detail the proposed constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir Heritage Conservation and Preservation Authority, with emphasis on strengthening its institutional capacity and ensuring effective implementation of conservation policies, the spokesman said.
He said a detailed presentation by concerned officials highlighting the immense heritage potential of Jammu and Kashmir, encompassing both tangible and intangible assets such as monuments, forts, shrines and performing arts traditions.
It was noted that despite this diversity, many heritage sites remain underutilised and are facing gradual deterioration due to limited technical expertise, fragmented institutional mechanisms and inadequate financial and policy support, the spokesman said.
He said a key focus of the presentation was the adoption of adaptive reuse models, particularly through public-private partnership (PPP) frameworks.
Drawing from successful examples in states such as neighbouring state Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, it illustrated how neglected heritage structures can be transformed into vibrant cultural and tourism destinations, the spokesman said.
He said projects such as Qila Mubarak (Patiala), Neemrana Fort and Orchha Fort were cited as examples where heritage hotels, museums and experiential spaces have generated revenue while preserving historical integrity.
The presentation also reviewed the existing legal and institutional framework under the Jammu and Kashmir Heritage Conservation and Preservation Act, 2010, identifying critical gaps including the inactive status of the Heritage Conservation Authority, lack of inter-departmental coordination and outdated institutional structures, which have hindered effective conservation and promotion efforts, the spokesman said.
To address these challenges, he said a reform proposal was presented, including reconstitution and strengthening of the Jammu and Kashmir Heritage Conservation and Preservation Authority with expanded powers, revised composition and active leadership.
The proposal also emphasised integrated planning, development of heritage tourism circuits, promotion of heritage hotels through PPP mode, and strategic branding of Jammu and Kashmir as a premier cultural and wedding destination, the spokesman said.
