Srinagar, August 8 (Vijay Kumar) – J &K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Saturday underscored the importance of showcasing Jammu & Kashmir state’s greater potential of adventure sports and said that efforts should be made to integrate sports events and tourism activities. “This would give new dimension to the efforts of the government to revive the tourism sector and generate large scale economic activities”, he added.
On the concluding day at a function of Kashmir cup International Rafting Championship,held at Sonamarg,Omar welcomed the foreign participants and asked them to come again next year and take part in river rafting besides enjoying the natural beauty and hospitality of the people. He asked the organizing agencies to expand the activity calendar and make river rafting and other adventure sports a regular feature. “Local boys should be encouraged and trained to participate in such events within and outside the country to showcase state’s talent and potential in this field”, he said and added that government would provide every help in developing the sports of all categories.
The Chief Minister asked the foreign participants to act as the brand ambassadors of states adventure tourism and disseminate the message of hospitality and potentiality of adventure sports and multi-dimensional tourism activities within the state.
Earlier Chief Minister Omar gave away prizes to the winners of 2nd Kashmir cup International Rafting Championship on the concluding day at a function at Sonamarg some 100 km from here.
The first prize was bagged by the Newzeland rafters, the 2nd prize went to Czech- Republic team and 3rd prize was received by Slovakia rafters.
The Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora thanked the Chief Minister for giving away prizes and inaugurating the event of far reaching benefits to the states tourism.