Kashmir tourism numbers decline sharply

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

SRINAGAR, India – A joint delegation of Kashmir-based various tourism bodies Saturday raised various industry related issues with Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday.

SRINAGAR, India – A joint delegation of Kashmir-based various tourism bodies Saturday raised various industry related issues with Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday.

Nisar Shah, Coordinator, Tourism Trade Bodiesโ€™ Coordination Committee (TTBCC) who was part of the delegation told Greater Kashmir that various issues relating to tourism industry were raised with the chief secretary.

He said after the recent floods, the tourist flow to Kashmir has sharply come down. โ€œIn a bid to revive and promote the tourism sector, we informed the chief secretary that government support at this juncture in this regard was highly important,โ€ Shah said.

He said the tourist infrastructure at Gulmarg, Pahalgam and some other world famous tourist resorts was not affected by the floods. โ€œSo the publicity and promotional programmes supported by the government can play a major role to attract large number of tourists to these places in Kashmir,โ€ he said.

Exuding confidence that authorities would promote the Valley tourism, he said that chief secretary assured them all kind of help in this regard.

โ€œWe demanded that authorities should ensure vigorous publicity campaign for the upcoming year. Publicity campaign should be carried in both print and electronic media,โ€ he said.

He said the delegation demanded that government should fight the misinformation campaign being promoted by some vested interests vis-ร -vis Kashmir tourism. โ€œThe government should make clear to all that all the tourist places in Kashmir are safe and were not hit by the floods,โ€ he said.

โ€œOur demands included that authorities should take initiatives to undo the damage being done by the so-called talk shows presenting a wrong picture of post-flood Kashmir tourism.โ€

He said the delegation demanded that government should sponsor road shows, trade fairs and travel marts across India and abroad. โ€œIt should also give a major facelift to Chinar Bagh, Zabarwan Park, Clock Tower Park at Lal Chowk, etc.โ€

Expressing satisfaction over the meeting, he said that Chief Secretary gave a patient hearing to the delegation.

โ€œHe (the chief secretary) also confirmed that he would personally take part in the forthcoming SATTE (Travel Mart) in Delhi and will also organize a road show where besides Travel Trade and press, the Ambassadors / High Commissioners of various countries will be invited,โ€ Shah said.

The District Development Commissioner of Srinagar was also present in the meeting.

The delegation was led by Mushtaq Ahamd Chaya, Chairman, J&K Hoteliers Club. Representatives of CCIK, TASK, TAAK, JKTA, PHAROA, UTAA, AKTO, PILTOF, ATOAK, TTIG, DTOAK, TAAI โ€“ JKC, IATO โ€“ JKC, ADTOI โ€“ JKC were part of the delegation.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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