Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir (ATOAK) called on the tourism minister Tassaduq Mufti to present him a memorandum regarding promotion of adventure tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation was consisted of ATOAK President Rauf Tramboo, Vice President Hakeem M Yousuf and General Secretary Muhammad Yusuf.
According to an ATOAK spokesperson, the delegation suggested different measures for promotion of the winter tourism in the valley for which Kashmir has natural facilities available. Homologation of ski slopes and exploring new winter sports resorts was on the top of suggestions, it said.
“The delegation informed the minister that paragliding was first introduced in Kashmir way back in 1984 but the pioneers of this extreme adventure today stand nowhere in the national scene. Himachal Pradesh, which started this product of adventure tourism after us, could conduct international paragliding championships,” reads the statement. “Similarly the J&K tourism department hosted three international rafting championships consecutively.
The delegation suggested that adventure tourism should be directly controlled by the directorate of tourism, which has an exclusive wing for it.
The minister gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured his full assistance, according to the statement.