Srinagar, Dec 02: Joint Director of Tourism Kashmir, Waseem Raja, on Tuesday said the department is making all-out efforts to accelerate the revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and is working closely with travel operators and stakeholders across the country to boost winter arrivals.
Raja said the department held a detailed meeting with travel leaders, hoteliers, tour operators and adventure tourism stakeholders to plan a series of promotional activities over the next two to three months. “We fully support them. I am grateful to all stakeholders for coming forward to promote tourism revival,” he said.
Raja said post the successful Kashmir Marathon, several major events are lined up for December, January and February. “Our Adventure Tour Operators Association is holding a convention in December with more than 200 delegates. In January and February, Snow Celebration events will be organised in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and other destinations. Winter celebrations—including Christmas and New Year festivities—will continue across Kashmir,” he said.
Raja said the Tourism Department has intensified its nationwide promotions. “In the past few months, we participated in multiple travel marts. Last week we were in Pune; before that, in Jaipur. More travel marts and road shows are scheduled in different states in the coming months,” he said.
He added that Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal continue to be major tourism markets for Kashmir. “We discussed how we can promote J&K tourism in Pune and Maharashtra through road shows and how we can bring travel operators from there to our events. It was a very fruitful meeting.”
Raja said tour operators are considered “brand ambassadors” of J&K tourism. “We will strive to attract as many operators as possible so they can contribute to our revival. We are making every possible effort to ensure tourism revival happens as quickly as possible,” he added—(KNO)
