Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary chaired the Union meeting of the Union of the Indian Industry Northern Regional Committee on tourism and hospitality held in Srinagar today and discussed strategic intervention on the revival of tourism and status and J&K as a global tourism hub.
CM Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmed Shah were present at the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, the dye CM highlighted several major points on promoting tourism development through cooperation and value -added vertical in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the government has intended to place J&K as a major 365-day destination beyond the season. He urged the CII to support the government in focusing from summer/winter peaks through curated experiences.
He said, “Tourism and Kashmir are related to such that one cannot be described in the absence of another. It is not that tourism in Kashmir is for a particular season, but is in the year. Each season has its own importance.”
DY CM said that the CII is working closely with the government on policy issues, expanding business opportunities for the industry through efficiency, enhancing competition and a series of special services and global linkages. He urged the CII to find out more possibilities of publicity and awareness about high scope in Jammu and Kashmir to come forward with special attention to tourism, handloom and handicrafts, adventure sports and skill development.
Dye CM said that our partnership with CII will unlock permanent development, generate employment and demonstrate our cultural heritage for the world. He reiterated that the government is taking all the steps to promote tourism in J&K, with special attention to enhancing infrastructure, diversifying tourism offerings, confusing local communities, to promote security and security.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM’s advisor said that with its national and international connect the CII should help the government target the top markets for permanent development and higher tourist expenses. He invited the CII members and the industry on a large scale to promote J&K on the tourism map of mice and suggested ways to further strengthen the tourism infrastructure in J&K.
Highlighting the importance of handloom and handicrafts, Dye CM suggested them to show them through live performances, craft villages tours and audiences to captivate the audience. “He said that J&K is famous for its rich culture and heritage and one of our efforts should revive folk festivals, Sufi music circuits, heritage walks in Srinagar/Jammu.
MLA Gulmarg, Farooq Ahmed Shah stressed that Adventure Sports Tourism could be a major driver for promotion, suggesting that Gulmarg and Pahgam should be benefited to host national and international adventure sports competitions.
He further stated that public-private participation (PPP) is also an area where government and CII can function jointly and develop special infrastructure like Adventure Park, Wellness Center, Heritage Hotel through transparent PPP models. He also suggested to detect the possibility of joint marketing campaigns with airlines, hotel chains and travel aggregators and strengthen local cooperative societies for homestand, directed tourism and artisans markets.
Earlier, Chairman CII Northern Regional Committee, KB Kachru on tourism and hospitality highlighted the agenda of the meeting, mainly included police intervention, annual action plan, tourism review of northern states, skill development, capacity construction and major schemes.
He said that the CII took a conscious decision to send a message to its first regional committee in the tourism meeting in Srinagar, which we should promote J&K at this turn. He reiterated that the CII and its members want to contribute to the overall tourism development of the region. “Our priority is to run policy reforms, permanent practices and public-private coordination,” he said.
Finally, Chairman CII Jammu -Kashmir, Dr. MA Alim, while presenting the vote of thanks, said that the Jammu and Kashmir government and CII will soon take some initiatives to further promote development in the region.