Holds meeting with Principal Secretary Tourism
Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir (ATOAK) has sought permission from department of tourism for organizing adventure activities at different locations in Valley.
ATOAK also made several demands from Principal Secretary Tourism Sandip Naik in a meeting with him here at SKICC. The delegation of ATOAK was led by its president Rauf Tramboo.
Among others who were present in the meeting were Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Managing Director Cable Car Corporation and CEO Gulmarg Nazir Ahmad Mir and Deputy Director Tourism publicity Zahoor Ahmad, a statement issued here said.
The statement said ATOAK held an exclusive meeting with the secretary tourism where it was brought into his notice that adventure tourism is an ailing sector and needs immediate attention.
It said he was apprised about the difficulties and impediments adventure tourism is facing in the state. “We brought to his notice the enormous difficulties faced by the adventure tour operators in operating adventure tourism smoothly,” said the statement.
After hearing their pleas patiently, he assured them his all possible assistance and cooperation.
He also advised his department to permit them to operate different adventure tourism activities in the Valley.
ATOAK said Naik was also informed about the disparity in operating adventure activities in the three regions of the state.
“In Ladakh, the stakeholders are neither charged any royalty nor are they pursuing lengthy procedures of seeking the permissions from Tourism Department. It is only in Kashmir that operators are charged royalty for adventure tourism activity.”
ATOAK said they informed Principal Secretary Tourism about the heavy losses adventure tour operators suffered during 2014 floods when their boats were taken by police, army and civil administration for rescue purposes.
“There was a direct loss of nearly 2.55 to rafting operators.” ATOAK also demanded that FAM tours to the places which have adventure tourism potential should be conducted exclusively for its members.
“We informed him that events like adventure expos and training of manpower in this sector is immediately needed.”
The Principal Secretary was requested to constitute a committee that could assess the proper working of tourism development authorities and the non-performers be taken to task.
ATOAK also requested that they may be allowed to operate paragliding at different places in the Valley where there is potential.
“Emphasis should be also given to soft adventures which could provide amusement to the families at different resorts in the Valley.”
Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood Ahmad Shah who himself is an avid adventurer also agreed to help grow adventure tourism in the state in all its forms and assured that there will be no delays in granting the permission to adventure stake holders for conducting different hard and soft adventure activities.
