Srinagar, July 15: The Valley-based tourism traders’ bodies have welcomed the announcement Chairman, Airports Authority of India, V P Agarwal recently made regarding impending operation of international flights from Srinagar International Airport.
 President, JKTA G M Dug said it was a welcome initiative which needed to be implemented immediately. He, however, suggested that tourism traders should be informed well in advance about the actual date when the flights would begin to operate.
 “Tourism traders particularly the tour operating companies must be informed at least two months before the first international flight actually takes off from the Srinagar International Airport about the actual date of take off,” he said, adding that that will enable the prominent Tour Operators of the Valley as also the Tourism Department to market Kashmir as a “Direct Connect Destination” (DCD) in foreign markets. 
 Dug also hailed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his “support in this regard.”
 “We again urge the government to follow the issue with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and AAI for early implementation of its commitment,” he said. 
 “Operation of International flights particularly to Jeddah should be made an uninterrupted service as Muslims in particular visit Makkah & Madinah round the year for Hajj & Umrah pilgrimages,” he said.
 “Since Kashmir Handicraft is exported to various destinations in Europe and USA, places like Jeddah and Dubai can work as excellent hubs for onward distribution and can provide a good logistic support to Kashmir Inc,” he said. 
 Chairman, Houseboat Owners’ Association (HBOA), Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo while welcoming the decision of the chairman AAI said it needed to be implemented very soon. “The international flights from Srinagar International Airport will help the tourism traders to cater to the middle east market,” he said, adding that it will also help every common person by increasing trade and business activity in the Valley.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST