Tourism Festival in Kashmir to change negative perception

Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 02 (KNB): In a bid to change the negative perception of Kashmir which adversely affects the footfall of visitors the valley the tourism Kashmir officials have geared up for Tourism Festival. In this regard Secretary Tourism Rigzin Sampheal earlier chaired a meeting to review preparedness for the chain of events to be held as part of upcoming Kashmir Festival.
Director Tourism Kashmir Tasaduq Jeelani, Director Finance Lateef Poswal, Director Planning Tourism Parvez Sajad Kakroo, Additional Secretary Tourism Gulzar Ahmed, Joint Director Tourism Jammu Showkat Mehmood and other concerned officers of the department attended the meeting.
Tasaduq Jeelani briefed the Tourism Secretary about the preparations to be done to facilitate a hassle-free Kashmir festival.
Jeelani has suggested that the festival to be conducted before the beginning of Durga Puja festival, which will be celebrated from the second week of October.
He also suggested that Dal Lake and its shore could be the venue for the festival, as it is considered travellers’ first route in Kashmir.
Leading tour operators, travel bloggers, journalists and other celebrities of the country, have to be invited for the festival, the meeting suggested.
Rigzin Sampheal, the Tourism Secretary, appreciated the home work done by Jeelani in planning the event in such a detail and directed the Jammu Tourism Joint Director to have a Jammu festival in similar way.
Besides Tourism Festival, a delegation of PHDCCI 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.
The 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.
Pertinently, describing Kashmir as a premiere tourist destination, Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, 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.
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.