JKTA holds 12 AGM
Emphasizing on promoting potential of the religious tourism in the State, Secretary Tourism Farooq Shah Saturday urged tour operators and hoteliers to sell J&K as a single unit.He also advised them to work under one banner and not to form too many associations.
Speaking at the 12th Annual General Meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance (JKTA) Shah said Kashmir alone can attract at least one crore Muslims from India if Valley’s famous shines and Mosques are promoted.
“J&K has famous temples, mosques, shrines and monasteries. Why can’t we sell religious places and attract good number of visitors to these sites,” said Shah.
He said J&K state should take cue from the states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Kerala where tourists visit in large numbers.
“If Rajasthan can attract 3.30 crore tourists, why can’t we do the same? These states don’t have as many tourist destinations and tourism products as we have. We have to sit together and introspect what is wrong in our promotion,” said Shah.
Secretary Tourism said he would soon invite travel trade fraternity from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions for brainstorming sessions to devise strategies to promote J&K as a single unit.
He said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is keen to promote J&K and develop it as the top tourist destination in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, member of JKTA Zahoor Tramboo said the year 2014 and 2015 has been tough years for tourism industry as tourist arrivals saw decline.
“The 2014 floods battered the tourism industry of Kashmir. Now government should devise a strategy to set a path of recovery,” said Tramboo.
He demanded a comprehensive package from government which would meet infrastructural, economic and other developmental needs.
He also urged government to give priority to local entrepreneurs while outsourcing any government business establishment.
“Government should focus on ease-of-doing business while encouraging local businessmen,” he said.
He said tourism was declared as an industry but this sector was denied its benefits.
“The benefits of tourism as industry in taxes, electricity and other things are yet to be implemented. Government should implement them forthwith to help this industry grow,” he demanded.
Earlier, Chairman JKTA Manzoor Pakhtoon in his welcome address said J&KTA has been promoting tourism in many part of India.
Last year, JKTA organize seminar in Mumbai while it has decided in this AGM to organize seminars and road shows in other states also.
Director Srinagar Airport, Rajesh Shinde and President J&K Bank Sehgal, noted tour operator Nasir Shah and columnist Ajaz-ul-Haque also spoke on the occasion. The representatives from other travel, trade and hotelier’s associations including KCCI President Mushtaq Wani, Secretary General KCCI and Past Chairman JKTA Faiz Ahmad Bhakshi, President KHAROF Javid Burza, KHARA President Showkat Chowdhary, senior member JKTA G R Siah, Maznoor Siddiq TAAK President, President ATOK Rauf Tramboo, President AKTO Nazir Mir, President DTOAK A H Wangoo, Chairman TAAI JK Chapter Shamim Shah, President UTTA John Mohammad, Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo President NATA, Abdul Aziz Guru President Airport Taxi Stand Association and others were present on the occasion.
