SRINAGAR SEPTEMBER 27: Secretary Tourism, Rigzin Sampheal Thursday said the department is framing a comprehensive tourism policy to institutionalize tourism sector.
Secretary Tourism was speaking as a chief guest at 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Travel Agents Association of Kashmir here in Srinagar.
The AGM was attended by travel agents, hoteliers and houseboat owners.
“We need to have a comprehensive tourism policy, update Tourist Trade Act, besides having a separate adventure tourism policy to institutionalize the sector,” he said.
He said the department will go for aggressive marketing outside the State in an effort to dilute the negative perception about Kashmir not being safe among the travelers.
He said that visitors in Kashmir are overwhelmed with the hospitality from locals and the service providers.
Rigzin Sampheal said the department would also promote J&K through an aggressive advertising campaign and also through road shows in major cities in India.
Secretary Tourism also announced that the department would organise Kashmir Festival during which they would invite national media besides the travel agents from across India who would see themselves how tourists are enjoying and holidaying here freely.
Speaking on the occasion Director Tourism Kashmir Tasaduq Jeelani urged industry players to provide better services to the tourists to make their holidays memorable.
He said J&K is the only State in India, which has zero crime record against foreign tourists, and the place was safer than any other place for women travellers.
He said the department is also planning to organize skill development courses for the services providers, especially in adventure tourism so that tourists enjoy top of the line service.
President TAAK Ashfaq Sidiq delivered welcome address while as Secretary General TAAK Farooq Kuthoo read out AGM report.
On the occasion, TAAK also gave away Manzoor Siddiq Award in the memory of their late President.
Prominent travel agent Late Nazir A Bakshi was given Manzoor Sidiq Award for the year 2017 posthumously while as noted hotelier G M Dug received the award for the year 2018. President’s Award was conferred to Malik Hamidullah Bazaz.
TAAK also gave away awards to its members for their promotional activities during its roadshow at Rajkot in 2017 and at Ambassadors Meet in New Delhi in 2018
Deputy Directors Masrat Hashmi and Reyaz Ahmad Shah were also present on the occasion.
JKTDC celebrates World Tourism Day
JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 27: To commemorate World Tourism Day on 27th September, 2018, JKTDC organized a welcome event at Jammu Airport. The officials of JKTDC applied Tilak and garlanded the tourists arriving at Jammu Airport from different parts of the country.
The guests were offered complimentary Saffron Kehwa and were briefed about the properties of JKTDC across the State, facilities and packages available to suit pocket of every guest willing to avail accommodation of the Corporation.
Later on, JKTDC in collaboration with Jammu Municipal Corporation participated in “Swachhata Hi Sewa Abhiyan” at Raghunath Chowk in which Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Secretary JMC and General Manager JKTDC also participated.
To create awareness among the locals Nukkad Nataks were also performed by NGO MERI PEHCHAAN in Raghunath Bazar for which logistic support was provided by Raghunath Bazar Association. The aim of the events organized by JKTDC was to foster awareness among the tourists and local community about the importance of tourism and its social and cultural values. As part of the celebrations World Tourism Day was also organized in Patnitop Circuit.
