Srinagar, May 15: The J&K Tourism Alliance, a representative body of tourism trade bodies, has urged the government to permit charter flights from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), South East Asia and Middle East to Srinagar International Airport.
 At a meeting with chief minister Omar Abdullah, office members and chairman JKTA, G M Dug, impressed the need for enhancing facilities at Srinagar International Airport and taking other steps to increase the flow of tourists to Kashmir, Dug told Greater Kashmir.
 The JKTA delegation urged the chief minister to allow the charter flights from CIS, South East Asia and Middle East to Srinagar International Airport, “as it would increase the flow of foreign tourists to the Valley.”
 The delegation suggested a number of steps “the government should take to make it convenient to the tourists to visit the Valley.”
 “We suggested the government to permit early morning and late evening flights to Srinagar and impress upon the airlines to increase frequency of flights between Delhi – Leh – Srinagar – Jammu – Leh – Delhi and convert Leh – Srinagar – Jammu another Tourism Golden Triangle,” Dug said.
 He said: “We also demanded augmentation of facilities at Srinagar International Airport and increasing of more passages at gate 1.”
 Dug said Kashmir can tap the business of Katra “if necessary steps are taken by the government to help the tourism traders.”
 “We suggested to the government to ensure tourists visiting Katra also visit Kashmir, it should provide for special luxury coaches from Katra to Kashmir,” he said.
 He said the Alliance said the governor and Boards of SMVD and SASB can also play a vital role in ensuring the tourists visit Kashmir.
 Dug said “the government should keep Srinagar – Kargil highway open for tourist vehicles all days so that tourists don’t miss their travel schedule.”
 He said: “We strongly suggested that sound and light show should be started by creating Night Bazaar at Shalimar garden.”
 According to Dug, the Chief Minister “assured his support to the initiatives of J&K Tourism Alliance.”
 The JKTA among others comprised of Secretary General, JKTA Nasir Shah, and Executive Members, Nazir A Bakshi, Rauf Tramboo and Amit Amla. 

Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 IST