Secretary Union Ministry of Tourism YogendraTripathi arrived here Thursday on a three-day tour to Srinagar and Gulmarg to review preparations for upcoming tourism season and also inspect infrastructure developmental works.
According to a state Tourism Department statement, SecretaryTourism RigzianSampheal, Director Tourism Kashmir Nisar Ahmad Wani, PrincipalIndian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) Col JS Dhillon, PrincipalInstitute of Hotel Management Srinagar QaziShabir Ahmad, MD J&K Cable CarCorporation Shamim Ahmad and other officers of the tourism department receivedthe Union Secretary and accompanied him to various sites at Srinagar.
Tripathi who was also accompanied by Economic Advisor UnionMinistry of Tourism Sandeep Kulshreshtha and other officers toured Dal Lake andvisited Houseboats, ChrarChinari and Sher-i-Kashmir International ConferenceCentre (SKICC).
The Union Secretary was impressed with the facilities atSKICC and asked its director BakhshiJavedHumayun to market the facility as aninternational conferencing centre. He was also shown the recently commissionedMusical Fountain and Laser Show which, he said, would be a major touristattraction.
According the statement, Union Secretary Tourism soughtinformation about the tourist footfall and the infrastructure developmenttaking place in the State for the memorable holidays of the travellers.
Secretary Tourism RigzianSamphel informed him that J&KTourism department has launched aggressive marketing campaigns by organisingroad shows within and outside the country, attending travel fairs in majorcities besides publishing advertisements in the leading national newspapers ofthe country.
Samphel informed him that that tourist footfall is pickingup and wayside facilities are also being developed for the comfortable journeyof the travellers.
The Union Secretary also had a brief meeting with ViceChancellor Central University Prof Mehraj-ud-din, University Registrar ProfFayaz Ahmad, Coordinator DrRamjit and Faculty Department of tourism studiesFaizan Ashraf Mir, at Vivanta by TajSrinagar for joint collaboration in conducting research studies on contemporarythemes including revival of tourism, destination rebuilding during crisis anddisaster, organising international conference on sustainable tourism for paceand development, conducting skill-based courses in the tourism and hospitalitymanagement, offering attractive tourism-related courses in collaboration withIndian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering.
On his second day on Friday, the Union Secretary Tourismwill tour Gulmarg and inaugurate various summer adventure courses at Instituteof Skiing and Mountaineering Botapathri and visit Kangdoori and Afarwat.
Deputy Director Tourism (Publicity) Reyaz Ahmad Shah, DeputyDirector Tourism (Recreation) Sarfarz Mohammad, Deputy Director M&W ZahoorAhmad also accompanied during the tour.