Mufti seeks fresh roadmap to reinvigorate state’s travel industry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 28

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today called for a fresh roadmap to reinvigorate the state’s travel industry by integrating leisure, adventure, heritage and pilgrim tourism.

Inviting concrete suggestions from the tourism stakeholders, the Chief Minister said recommendations should also suggest the manner in which the negative perception about travelling to J&K could be dispelled.

“The tourism industry has a multiplier effect in terms of livelihood generation. We need to formulate a strategy to address lack of infrastructure and gaps in the hospitality sector to excel as a leading global travel destination,” the CM said while chairing the first meeting of the recently constituted Tourism Advisory Board (TAB).

The meeting was held at the tourist resort of Pahalgam and was attended by all the members, including former Union Tourism Secretary Parvez Dewan; Chairman and MD, ITDC, Umang Narula; Member, National Monuments Authority of India, Ministry of Culture, Mohammad Salim Beigh; and Secretary Tourism Farooq Ahmad Shah.

Others who attended the meeting included Mushtaq Ahmad Burza from the Ahad Group of Hotels & Resorts; Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya of the Grand Mumtaz Group; Bharat Choudhary of KC Residency and senior officers of the Tourism Department from both Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

Advocating friendly relations with Pakistan, the Chief Minister said lasting and sustainable peace was a “prerequisite” for making tourism a robust and vibrant industry in J&K.

He described the travel industry as a vital confidence building measure and expressed happiness about the recent visit to the Valley by some golfers from the neighbouring country.