Chief Minister also took stock of the progress of regaining the old glory of world famous Nigeen Lake. He inspected the tourism heritage park recently built across the Nigeen club.
On the occasion, the Minister for Tourism and Culture,Nawang Rigzin Jora said that the main objective for organizing Kashmir Festival is to enhance the summer tourism season and showcase the culture, heritage, art, craft and beauty of Kashmir Valley.
Jora said that this year Kashmir Tourism Festival was a symbolic one and added that in future 10 to 15 days Tourism Festival would be enlisted in the tourism calendar so that all the stake holders would involve themselves in this mega event every year and will be a bonus event to the visiting tourists in month of October.
Referring to the development of Tulip garden in the lap of Zabarwan hills, the Minister said that this international recognized garden have pre-poned the summer tourist season by one month and added that the same way organizing of Tourism Festival in the month of October would also help our travel agents to extend the stay of tourists upto end of October. Recalling this experience in Ladakh region where the tourism department organized 15 days Ladakh Festival in the month of September helps the tourist travel agents to extend it upto 15th of October which helps to boost the economy of the area.
Jora said the department has already identified the areas to harness other resources fully for which Rs. 25 crore have been sanctioned for the preservation of heritage sites in Srinagar city. He said the tourists have different classes and it is our duty to provide basic infrastructure and awareness about the particular class to the tourist whosoever wants to visit J&K as per their choice. He said that we are working to take necessary steps for enhancing the winter tourism in J&K also.
The Festival was organized by Tourism Department in collaboration with Information and Public Relations, Handicrafts, Cultural Academy, JKTDC, Floriculture and Horticulture departments.
Speaking on the occasion, State Minister Nasir said that the main thrust of coalition government is to make J&K round the year tourist destination for global tourists and added that this target should be achieved by the collective efforts of all the stake holders of the industry and people of the state. He said we have to work for reclaiming 1989 position of tourism industry in J&K when it is claimed number one tourism destination at the national and international level.
On this occasion, Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA, Zadibal, Peer Afaq, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, s. Tanveera Jehan, Director Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Managing Director, JKTDC, Satesh Nehru, tourism traders, trade agents and houseboat owners were present.
The presence of distinguish personalities from tourism trade, members of Chamber of Commerce, Media and artists from different parts of the valley added charm to the festival.