Association of Kashmir Tour Operators (AKTO) has hailed tourism department for conducting adventure sports activities during winter months. In a statement, Chairman AKTO Nazir Ahmad Mir said national ice-skating held at Gulmarg and ice-climbing event at Pahalgam would help promote Kashmir among the adventure lovers and bring good adventure enthusiasts to Valley. “Adventure tourism has lot of potential in the State and organizing events would promote Kashmir for adventure tourism also. Adventure tourists are high-spending tourists who needs to be attracted to Kashmir in large numbers,” said AKTO Chairman AKTO…
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Business
New trains, business opportunities for J&K: Prabhu
Interacts with Ministers, MPs, Legislators Centre liberal in schemes, funds for State: Dy CM Union Minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu today said that Indian Railways is taking steps to connect Jammu and Kashmir State with rest of the country through railway line starting from the northern district of Baramulla. He said in this regard the project which was left in limbo has been fast paced by holding regular periodical meetings about its implementation besides providing the requisite funds for it. The Union Minister was addressing a meeting here today. It…
Read MorePost-floods, govt fails to revive economy
As Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu is making preparations to present the second annual Budget in the Legislative Assembly on January 22, the PDP-BJP government’s efforts in the last nine months to revive the post-flood economy have disappointed people. The coalition government, in its maiden Budget on March 22, 2015, had promised to work towards economic self-reliance and fiscal autonomy while focusing attention on putting the state on the path of recovery after the floods in 2014. The government had termed its first Budget as “white paper” on the state finances…
Read MoreGovt aims to make Tulip Garden a ‘major tourist attraction’
In a bid to woo tourists throughout the year, the government is seriously mulling to make Tulip Garden in Srinagar as an all-season attraction, officials said on Tuesday. If all goes as per the plan, Tulips would bloom twice a year at the Tulip Garden situated on the foothills of Zabarwan mountains, overlooking the famous Dal Lake here. “A tourist should have something to enjoy throughout the year. We plan to integrate Botanical Garden with the Tulip garden to make it an all-season attraction for tourists,” said Director Floriculture, Talat…
Read MoreCan’t be taken for granted anymore, says Kashmir’s business community
Kashmir traders’ groups have said they have sent a clear message with their boycott of the pre-Budget meeting with the Finance Ministry that they cannot be taken for granted anymore and be swayed by false assurances. Traders said they boycotted Monday’s meeting in protest against the government’s “failure” to suitably rehabilitate victims of last year’s floods, but there were other reasons that had led to resentment among the business community. “We expressed our disappointment by boycotting the meeting. The government is only playing politics and fooling us through false promises.…
Read MorePoor power makes Kashmir’s manufacturing industry poorer
Stating that the industrial output in Kashmir has sharply declined by over 50 per cent due to erratic power supply, premier industrial body, Federation Chamber of Industry Kashmir, Monday threatened to close down their units “if the state government did not provide uninterrupted power supply”. Senior Vice President, FCIK Afaq Qadri while talking to us he said the government is “indifferent” towards the manufacturing industry in Kashmir which is facing huge problems due to wrong policies of the government. “Our production has dipped by over 50 per cent in last few…
Read MoreDemand for dried vegetables soars during winter in Kashmir
The demand for dried vegetables increased in Jammu and Kashmir as the minimum temperatures across the Valley were recorded below the freezing point. The residents witnessed intense cold wave as 40-day long Chillai Kalan, believed to be the harshest winter period, began in the state. The demand and sale for dried vegetables increase as people in the valley relish dry vegetables, smoked fish and wild herbs to survive during the extreme winter. On Sunday, people thronged local markets to purchase vegetables like bottle gourd, brinjal, beetroot, pumpkin, tomatoes, turnips, and…
Read More‘Despite floods Kashmir had good tourism season last year’
Gearing up for promotional campaigns, various Kashmir-based travel associations with the support of Government will organize massive marketing shows across many Indian cities during this winter. The marketing campaigns to be held at Indore, Raipur, Nagpur, Surat, Mumbai, Chandigrah, Ludhiana, Cochin, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and other places shall include road shows and seminars. Director Tourism Kashmir, Mahmood Shah confirmed that the department will be organizing such campaigns in several cities of India. He said the department is also now focusing on the states in which people have little knowledge…
Read MoreKashmiri artist bags national award in Papier Mache craft
Minister for Public Works, Floriculture and Gardens & Parks, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has congratulated Syed Maqbool Hussain Rizvi on his bagging the national award for excellence in Papier Mache craft. Wishing Hussain a continuing successes, Bukhari assured the artisans pursuing various crafts like Papier Machie, Khatamband, Pashmina shawls, Copper works, Wood works, and all other skills “who were left to live in an atmosphere of despondency and scarcity of resources” that the present dispensation shall explore all possibilities to address their grievances. “The state government is conscious…
Read MoreValley slopes to host heli-skiers from Jan
Jammu fest to make a comeback, Patnitop carnival will be bigger The slopes of Kashmir will see adventures of heli-skiers from January as a promotional campaign launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Government has attracted several high-end tourists from across India and western countries who will explore the beauty of the Himalayas. The Tourism Department has decided to revive the concept of a Jammu festival while the winter carnival at Patnitop will be organised in much bigger way this year. Officials said the next two months were packed with skiers…
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