Srinagar, May 21: Former Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Shah was accorded a warm send off at SKICC lawns, here.
 Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of state for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani and many officers of Tourism Department were present.
 Jora on the occasion hailed Shah for his contribution to the Tourism sector. The minister said: ‘We will miss Farooq very much and I never wanted him to leave this department.’
 “I am saddened at his departure. Farooq played a dynamic role in promoting the Kashmir tourism. Shuffles are part of the administrative system and one day or other we have to leave one department and move to other,” Jora, according to a statement issued here, said. 
 Speaking on the occasion Wani said: “One must have an aptitude to handle the Tourism Department and Farooq Shah had that leadership quality to give a new lease of life to this department.”
 “He joined this department when there was trouble all around in Kashmir. Many attacks were carried on tourists at that time and it was really difficult to revive the tourism in the Valley. But he did an excellent job in getting this department out of trouble,” Nasir said.
 Farooq Shah on the occasion said: “Right from the first day of my holding the assignment of Director Tourism, I used to say to people that if any industry would survive in Kashmir that will be tourism only.”
 “More than 60 per cent people in the Valley are directly or indirectly dependent on the tourism sector,” Farooq said.
 He said his team worked very hard to revive the tourism in Kashmir valley.
 “After several attacks were carried out on tourists, the department was on verge of extinction but thankfully I and my team worked very hard to bring tourists back to Kashmir valley,” he said, adding that the transfers and shuffles are part of service.
  Among others who spoke on the occasion include Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atul Dullo, Director Tourism Talat Parvaiz, Principal, Hotel Management Institute, Nasheed Srivastav, General Manager SKICC Javid Bakshi President ADTOI Hameed Narwari , TAI JK Chapter Madani, President Houseboat Owners’ Association, Aziz Tuman, President Travel Agents and Association of Kashmir Rouf Tramboo.    
  The function was held on Friday.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 IST