The State Government is planning to hold a Tourism festival in the summer capital here next month, in a bid to give flip to the ongoing tourist season in Kashmir.
An official statement said Advisor to Governor KhurshidAhmed Ganai has issued directions to Secretary Tourism Department to preparefor a Tourism festival in Srinagar in third or fourth week of June.
Ganai holds the charge of Tourism Department. “The nationaland international stakeholders will be invited to the festival to re-focusattention on J&K as a favored tourist destination for which it is known theworld over,” the statement said.
Meanwhile the Advisor asked the Tourism Department officialsto gear up for ongoing tourist season and forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, stating alarge number of tourists and pilgrims were expected to visit the State.
Ganai said 2019 was likely to witness steady flow oftourists to the State as well as pilgrims for Amarnath and Mata Vaishno Devi JiYatra.
Highlighting potential of the State in adventure tourism,the Advisor issued instructions to Directors of Tourism to create specialfacilities and arrangements for those who want to go for trekking, paragliding,water sports and mountaineering expeditions.
He laid emphasis on promoting J&K as a high-end golfdestination in the country.
Inviting suggestions from all tourism stakeholders forincreasing the tourist footfall in the State, the Advisor said a fresh roadmaphas to be prepared to reinvigorate the State’s travel industry which willhappen by integrating leisure, adventure, heritage and pilgrim tourism.
He highlighted the multiplier effect of the tourism sectorand directed the Department to effectively counter the negative perceptionbeing spread about travelling to the State.
Urging private stakeholders to play an active role inbuilding their capacities and creating niche facilities for tourists visitingthe State, Ganai described tourism as a pivot around which the State’s economycan be rebuilt in a big way.
“Tourism has a great potential in terms of employmentgeneration and provides vital linkage to the famed handicrafts sector of theState,” he said.
Describing tourism as a vital industry, the Advisorreiterated his earlier direction to establish a ‘single window clearancemechanism’ to facilitate private players to boost investment in the State’stourism sector.
He issued directions for taking steps to bring in morescenic spots on the tourism map of the State.
The Advisor expressed hope that a large number of touristswould visit the State as the Department and stakeholders have made adequatepreparations for convenience of the tourists.