SRINAGAR, AUGUST
01: Describing Kashmir as a premiere tourist destination, Advisor to
the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, today urged the tour and travel industry in
the State to join hands in framing an effective strategy to change the negative
perception which adversely affects the footfall of visitors the valley.
He said Kashmir is
as safe as any other tourist destination in world, unlike the one projected by
a section of the media.
The Advisor said
this while interacting with a delegation of PHD Chamber of Commerce &
Industry, here today.
Secretary Tourism,
Rigzian Sampheal, Director Tourism Kashmir, Tassaduq Jeelani, Chairman, PHD
Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHDCCI), J&K Chapter, Mushtaq Chaya and
other representatives of PHDCCI were present on the occasion.
Seeking support
from all stakeholders connected with the tour and travel industry in the state,
Ganai said the efforts of the Government would bear positive results only if we
are able to break the negative stereotyping that seems to have stuck with
Kashmir for the last few years. “The proof of the pudding lies in the eating.
Let you all form linkages with your counterparts in other states and invite
them to FAM tours here,” Ganai suggested.
Urging the
participants to recognize the reach of media, especially Doordarshan, the
Advisor said using the platform of Prasar Bharti will go a long way in
portraying Kashmir in its right perspective.
Ganai also
discussed in detail the steps being taken by the Tourism Department in
increasing tourist arrivals in the State. He also invited suggestions on how
the tour and travel industry can scale up and come up to the expectations to
the travelers from across the country and abroad.
The Advisor
revealed the tourism department is preparing to host a Kashmir festival in near
future. Giving details regarding the festival, he said people affiliated with the
tourism sector especially tour operators, travel writers, and bloggers have
been invited to get the first-hand appraisal of the situation in Valley and
assess how different the situation is than what a section of media is
projecting.
He informed the PHDCCI
delegation that in near future that a delegation from State would also be
travelling to major cities of the country, including Gujrat, Maharashtra,
Calcutta, Tamil Naidu to hold roadside shows, and interactions with major
stakeholders.
Earlier, the PHDCCI
Kashmir Chapter delegated apprised the Advisor with various issues and sought
his intervention to address them at an earliest.
The delegation
requested for implementation of Government order to treat hotels and resorts at
par with the industries for payment of power tariff. Besides, they were also
seeking reimbursement of SGST to hotels, restaurants, banquets, and travel
companies, in addition of taking up the case with GST Council for reimbursement
of CGST to the hotels, restaurants, banquets and travel companies of the State.
The meeting was
informed that PHDCCI Kashmir Chapter is intending to organize, PHD Golf Tourism
Conclave and Tournament from September 22-23, 2018 at SKICC, which
will be attended by Ministry of Tourism Officials, Embassies and High
Commissions, Indian and Foreign Golf tour operators, State and International
Tourism Boards, Hoteliers, and others.
Seeking support of
the Government in the endeavor, the delegation said the objective of organizing
the event is to promote the Golf courses across India, especially of the State
and to boost the tourism sector of the State.
The delegation also
raised other issues related education, social welfare, revenue, horticulture,
horticulture and animal husbandry.
The Advisor listened to their issues patiently and assured that all the
issued will be looked into and will be forwarded to the concerned departments
for their early disposal.
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