Indian Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhary Friday said the advisories issued by European countries against travelling to Jammu and Kashmir would soon be withdrawn.

"I am saying with full confidence that the travel advisories would be gone soon," an official statement quoted Chowdhary as saying during a meeting with Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed here.

They discussed several tourism related issues, including the development of infrastructure and central assistance for setting "tourism villages" in the state.

Chowdhary maintained that Kashmir was as safe a destination as any other in the world.

"Recently, they asked me in the US how safe I thought Kashmir was. I replied 'As safe as New York'," she said.

Chowdhary, according to the statement, said that government has vigorously pursuing the issue of travel advisories with the concerned countries.

She said External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh also took up the matter forcefully and it was due to these efforts that Italy has already withdrawn its advisory.

The minister said that in the wake of the discussions with the concerned countries, she was confident that these advisories would be soon withdrawn.

She also said Kashmir should adopt a central scheme to showcase rural tourism and culture. "Under the scheme, local artisans are encouraged to set up training and display centres where tourists could see and appreciate local culture."

She appreciated the chief minister's efforts to set up tourist villages at important destinations and said it would promote tourism.

Chowdhary said her ministry has released Rs.100 million to Kashmir for development activities in the tourism sector.

Sayeed urged the ministry to host an annual Ambassadors' Golf Tournament at Gulmarg, which has the highest golf course in the world. She said she would coordinate with the Delhi Golf Club for this.