Tourism chief: Kashmir only place that does not need marketing

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir, India – Secretary of Tourism Zaffar Ahmad Bhat on Sunday said tourism sector has contributed seven percent to State’s GDP.

Addressing a press conference here at SKICC, Bhat said seven percent GDP comes from tourism which is very close to the agriculture GDP contribution in the economy of Kashmir.

Bhat said Kashmir is the only place that does not need marketing. “Kashmir is the only place that does not require any publicity. The need of the hour is to integrate Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Those who visit Kashmir should visit Jammu and Ladakh too,” Bhat said.

Secretary Tourism said they would make sure that local cinema or the regional cinema will also be promoted in addition to invite Bollywood.

“For Bollywood to shoot films here, the help of local cinema is also needed. With their assistance, we can overall promote tourism,” Zafar said.

He further said the people who were invited for the spring festival appreciated the hospitality of Kashmiris and were mesmerized by the beauty of the valley.

He further said when a tourist comes, everybody from Shikara Wala to local shopkeeper gets benefitted which adds immensely to an individual’s income and the overall economy of the state.

Director Tourism, Talat Parvez who was also present on the occasion said he will do his best to promote places like Bhaderwah in addition to places from Kashmir valley.

“We have invited Bollywood exclusively to shoot films here. Earlier also national shows like ‘Maata ki Chauki’ were also shot in Bhaderwah,” Talat said.

Talat assured he would make sure that films to be shot here will not have a negative impact over the audience across India.

“Earlier our motto was to just attract Bollywood industry to Kashmir.

But now we will also concentrate on the script,” Talat said adding the department would make sure that the script of the films to be shot in Kashmir should not contain any dialogue or story that will prove as a negative publicity to our Valley.

Talking about steep increase in airfare director Tourism said he has already requested the Union Aviation Ministry to lower the air fares.
“We have requested the concerned authorities to look into hike in the air fares. Whatever is in our domain, we are working on it,” Talat said.

The director also appreciated the efforts of all tour operators in
promoting the tourism in Valley.