Jammu (PTI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to formulate an integrated plan envisaging promotion of prominent tourist destinations for evolving Jammu province as a tourist hub on national and international tourism map.

This was decided by Director Tourism Jammu Sarita Chauhan at a meeting here yesterday after reviewing the development works of Tourism Development Authorities (TDA) of Jammu division.

Chauhan stressed the need for developing the virgin locales of Jammu province through coordinated efforts of various TDA's focusing on the development of infrastructure in the prime identified areas having tourism potential.

TDA's should use the promotion and advertising avenues of the department for showcasing their important destinations, she said.

During the meeting, it was also held as how to evolve Jammu division from being predominantly pilgrimage tourism centre towards other diversified and alternative fields of adventure tourism, heritage tourism, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, health tourism, rural tourism and flori-tourism.

Various suggestions to exploit the potential of the places like Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Mansar-Surinsar, Patnitop, Lakhanpur, Sarthal and Jammu were put forth.

A master plan is being prepared to turn newly discovered places of religious importance and unexplored natural areas like Sarota valley, Shaker Marg, Girjan Marg, Faranbar, besides heritage sites into major tourism destinations.