LUCKNOW, JANUARY 17: The J&K Tourism Department stall at the India Travel Mart (ITM) here has been evoking keen response from the stakeholders particularly tour operators and intending tourists. The three day tourism event was inaugurated by Principal Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Uttar Pradesh, Mukesh Kumar Meshram and is closing by tomorrow. Large number of visitors who visited the J&K stall evinced keen interest in the tourism products on display and enquired about the most sought after destinations like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Yousmarg, Patnitop, Mansar, Bhaderwah, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji and Katra. The J&K Tourism Department delegation comprising Dy Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Ahsanul Haq Chishti and Deputy General Manager, JKTDC, Mr. Ashwini Gupta briefed the visitors, particularly travel operators about the activities undertaken by the Tourism Department in reviving back tourism in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic. The delegation, in a series of Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Client (B2C) meetings, also informed the visitors about the current status of winter tourism in Kashmir particularly various snow activities being held at the world famous Gulmarg resort these days. They also informed the stakeholders about the lesser known and upcoming destinations in the Union Territory being promoted by the Department. The visitors evincing keen interest in the tourism infrastructure, logistic details and packages and said they would include these destinations in their itineraries and packages for the upcoming tourist season. The J&K Tourism Department had made arrangements for screening of short films shot recently by the Department all through the event. The short films on varied tourism potential of J&K including Leisure, Nature, Pilgrimage, heritage, Adventure etc. were deeply appreciated by the visitors who came to the J&K stall during the event. The departmental delegation also distributed brochures, flyers, packages and other publicity material highlighting the different destinations of the UT among the visitors. It may be mentioned here that after the successful conduct of a series of events back home to revive the tourism sector in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the J&K Tourism Department has started focusing on promotional activities and road shows outside the Union Territory. Earlier also, the Tourism Department has made an outreach to the tourist market of Kolkata, Maharashtra, Gujarat and other States for revival of the sector and in coming days the outreach shall be expanded further. The aim has been to boost and amplify and the confidence among the tourists, invite them while practicing all COVID-19 protocols and promoting the varied and diverse aspects of J&K’s tourism.
