Bangalore: J&K was adjudged yet another time as the Best Adventure Tourism Destination in one of the India’s largest travel shows – Indian International Travel Mart (IITM) – which concluded on Sunday in Bangalore.
Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah, received the award at the hands of Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Tourism Minister of the Sri Lanka John AE Amaratunga.
Joint Director Tourism Jammu Vishesh Paul Mahajan, GM Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation Sajid Naqash were also present on the occasion.
IITM-Bangalore is a 3 day event being held every year from 21st July to the 23rd July 2017.
Twelve countries and 24 states participated in the event this year which showcased their tourism products. Besides tourism boards, travel and tourism industry including hoteliers, online travel portals, hotel reservation networks, wildlife and eco-tourism resorts, golf resorts, etc., participated in the event making it one of the largest platform for tourism promotion.
During the three day event, the visitors were given brochures and other publicity materials having extensive information of tourism destinations and other products.
Director Tourism Kashmir said the award is in the recognition of the J&K state’s and tourism department’s efforts to promote J&K as the adventure tourism destination.
Speaking on the occasion Director Tourism Kashmir said the state of J&K has every tourism product to offer for every taste of traveler besides having immense potential in adventure, leisure and pilgrimage tourism.
“There is no limit in adventure tourism in J&K especially in Kashmir and Ladakh region,” said Shah.
He said his department is conducting adventure related activities to promote adventure among locals who can earn livelihood from this segment of the tourism.
The department had decorated its space beautifully during the 3-day show attracting the visitors and exhibitors who showed keen interest to visit J&K.
Director Tourism Kashmir said the department is trying to tap the south Indian market in view of the less arrivals from Gujarat and Maharashtra.
“This year J&K state received less tourist influx from traditional markets like Gujarat and Maharashtra. However, the arrivals from South India picked up which is encouraging. There is a good scope of tapping south India market and IITM Bangalore is one such platform. Lot of bikers, adventure enthusiast, and leisure and pilgrim tourists from Karnataka visit J&K.”
Earlier also J&K received two awards in IITM Chennai including the Best Adventure Tourism Destination award.
The participation in the travel trade shows is in continuation of the efforts of the tourism department to remove negative perception among traveler to visit Kashmir.
Tourism department also participated in TTF Kolkata, TTF Hyderabad and IITM Chennai to dilute and counter negative perception. (KNS)
