In order to launch a vigorous campaign for promotion of J&K tourism, the Department of Tourism will organise several Familiarisation (FAM) Trips of leading travel agents, tour operators, media houses from different parts of the country to Kashmir in the coming months.
Besides, the department will start vigorous outdoorcampaigning in all major states of the country.
Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, Navin KumarChoudhary stated this during a meeting with the heads and representatives oflocal travel and hospitality sector here at TRC on Friday.
Principal Secy Tourism said the department will host a FAMgroup of 30 members every month which will include leading journalists,cameramen and tour operators.
While stating thatJ&K is an all-weather tourist destination, he emphasised on thestakeholders and officers of the department to jointly promote the state, itsculture and hospitality in its true spirits for which it is known all over theworld.
The PrincipalSecretary Tourism told the officers of tourism development to gear up thesocial media campaign.
He also stressed on the need of having comprehensive tourismpolicy in place and also to make necessary amendments in the J&K TouristTrade Act to make it more vibrant.
The Principal Secretary assured the travel trade that thedepartment would promote Leave Travel Concession (LTC) packages across India sothat government employees working in different parts of the country can availthis scheme and visit the state in large numbers.
He also laid stress on adventure tourism and water sportsactivities.
The Principal Secretary Tourism said the department wouldmake a comprehensive documentation of the trekking routes to tap the immensepotential of this segment and also promote water sports across the state.
On the occasion, the representatives of the associations ofhotel, travel, houseboat also made several suggestions including hiring ofprofessional PR agency at the national and regional level, promoting adventuretourism, attracting business houses for MICE tourism, preserving and conservingwater bodies, creating ad films, promotion of tourism outside the country, etc.