Gulmarg, Feb 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday stressed on close rapport between the Local and National Tour Operators to showcase Jammu and Kashmir as choicest tourist destination for wide ranging attractions in this sector.
 Addressing a joint interaction session of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kashmir Tour Operators Associations here, the Chief Minister told them to work in tandem and pave the way for making ensuing tourist season a success.
   Omar said that government has flagged tourism sector as one of the priority concerns and all efforts are being made to restore the state’s prime position on the global tourist map. “We are upgrading infrastructure and enhancing other tourist facilities across the state through the Tourism department and the chain of Tourism Development Authorities”, he said adding that all players in the field have to contribute to revive and maintained the tourism glory of Jammu and Kashmir.
  “While the Gulmarg is unique skiing resort in the winter it is renowned as lush green flower meadow in summer”, he said asking the Tour Operators Associations to make the tourists aware of the special characteristics of this place of natural beauty. He said God has bestowed his blessings upon this part of the earth with the unparallel natural beauty in the shape of sky kissing mountains clad with snow and marvelous forests, beautiful water bodies, rare fauna and flowers besides tremendous potential for adventure and pilgrim tourism.
  “Our all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh offer different and vast tourists attractions”, he said emphasizing the need for making the tourists aware of the novelty Jammu and Kashmir possesses in tourism sector.
 The Tour Operators assuring their fullest cooperation in the State Government’s efforts to boost tourism sector, put forth various suggestions for the consideration of government.
 The Members of a Film Unit from Bollywood headed by famous actor   Om Puri which is at present in Gulmarg in connection with film shooting, also met the Chief Minister and exchanged their views with him.   Omar urged the members of Film Unit to encourage other members of their fraternity to shoot in the beautiful places of Jammu and Kashmir and restore the past practice in this field.
 The Tour and Travel Operators, hoteliers and others associated with tourism in Jammu and Kashmir brought to the notice of the Chief Minister certain issues regarding their trade and functioning. 
   The Minister of State for Tourism,   Nasir Aslam Wani speaking on the occasion gave resume of the measures government has initiated to upgrade the tourists facilities and catapult tourism related activities in the state.
 The Director Tourism, Kashmir,   Farooq Ahmed Shah was also present on the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST