‘Snow festival in offing’
To attract travelers back to Kashmir, the department of tourism J&K is organising, Travel Mart in Jammu, Golf Tournament, snow festival at Gulmarg besides organising winter sports activities at Pahalgam.
This was stated by Secretary Tourism Sarmaz Hafeez while addressing the hoteliers, travel trade industry here in Srinagar.
Secretary Tourism according to the statement, interactive meeting with J&K Hoteliers Club, PHD Kashmir Chapter and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir to understand the requirements of the travel trade and hospitality sector for the publicity and promotion to be carried out across the country in the winter month. The meeting was held in a follow up to the meetings held by PHD Kashmir Chamber and Hoteliers Club with Chief Minister on Thursday.
Secretary Tourism said the department would work jointly with the private stakeholders for the promotion of the tourism of the state.
He said both the department and the tourism service providers will work as a unit to bring tourists back to the state with the vigorous promotional campaigns across many cities in the country and in other countries.
Secretary Tourism also emphasized on promoting state’s potential in horticulture, arts and crafts during the travel marts and road shows outside the state.
“We will have cultural shows besides the exhibition of local food, our handicraft products besides the horticulture produce as part of our promotional programs,” said Secretary Tourism.
He also informed that the department is also organising festival on the on Christmas and besides organising 10-day winter festival to promote winter tourism during which skiing, snowboarding competitions besides heli-skiing would be organised.
“We will also promote Pahalgam as a winter destination by organising winter sports activities at this picturesque resort,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah said the department would organise another Familiarisation (FAM) Tour for the Travel Agents from South Indian states to promote Kashmir among the travellers from that place.
He said besides the department has already organised road show Dhaka last year and it plans to organise more road shows from that place where from tourists have started to visit Kashmir.
“We targeting the travellers from South India, Bangladesh and South East Asian countries where we will also make our presence with road shows,” he said.
He also announced that the department would Travel Mart in Jammu from November 9-Novemver 11 in which travel agents from different countries would participate and market J&K.
Deputy Director Tourism Riyaz Beigh also attended the meetings. (KNS)