Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today assured tourism stakeholders and players that he will take up their concerns with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and request for opening up of several closed tourist destinations in Kashmir.
The Chief Minister said this while addressing the 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) at the Gulmarg Convention Centre.
“On one hand we promote tourism, but on the other, many destinations remain closed. This is one of the biggest challenges in our difficult circumstances. When half of Kashmir is shut for tourism, promotion becomes meaningless. What do we tell the tourists— that you can ride the Gondola but the ATV grounds are closed? That you can go to Tangmarg but not to Drung, or that you can come to Pahalgam but not visit Aru and Betab Valley? Even in the worst times we had not kept these areas closed. So I assure you I will speak to the Home Minister and request him to open these destinations. This will build confidence and help us attract more tourists,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister said that when tourists are told certain destinations are closed, it creates a negative perception about the overall situation in Kashmir. “We must come on one page with the central government, otherwise our efforts at promotion will not succeed,” he added.
Congratulating newly elected TAAK President Farooq A. Kuthoo, Omar Abdullah assured the association of full support of the government. “Mr. Kuthoo has a strong foundation to take the association forward. In these circumstances, promoting tourism is not easy, but I want to assure you that just as we worked closely with outgoing President Rauf Tramboo, we will work with TAAK under your leadership as well,” he said.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that autumn and winter seasons would bring some revival, while preparations should begin in earnest for the spring season.
Highlighting the significance of today’s gathering, Omar Abdullah said, “We will always remember that the first programme held at the Gulmarg Convention Centre was the 17th AGM of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir. In future, many prestigious programmes of FICCI, CII, Government of India and Government of J&K will be held here, but the first will always remain with TAAK.”
The AGM was also addressed by Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, prominent hotelier Mushtaq Chaya, outgoing TAAK President Rauf Tramboo and newly elected President Farooq A. Kuthoo. Members of TAAK from across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh participated in the meeting.
