Advisor Baseer Khan discusses issues and demands of tourism stakeholders with concerned deptts

SRINAGR, JUNE 04: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat here to discuss the issues raised by various stakeholders of tourism sector during various meetings held by the Advisor with them.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Tourism and Culture, Sarmad Hafeez; Director Information and Public Relations, Rahul Pandey; Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr. G. N. Itoo; Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Athar Aamir ul Shafi Khan; Vice Chairman LAWDA, Chief Engineer KPDCL Kashmir, Chief Engineer Jal Shakti Kashmir and officers of other departments.

The meeting deliberated upon the issues and demands raised by the stakeholders connected with tourism and to evolve a mechanism to mitigate and accommodate their concerns as far as possible so that further succor could be provided to them in addition to what has already been considered in their favor in view of this pandemic.

The stakeholders had urged the government’s intervention to provide immediate succor to them due to the prevailing circumstances. They had asked the government to provide support to them as they have been badly hit by the pandemic claiming that the prime season has been lost due to the lockdown and this sector is the worst hit.

The Advisor while discussing the issues with the officers from the various departments directed the concerned to work out comprehensive report which would indicate the scope and nature of relief to be provided so that the same is taken up for consideration. The Advisor said that the Tourism sector started from scratch at the end of first wave and everyone is witness to the fact that this sector flourished in the days prior to the onset of second wave. He appreciated efforts of the tourism department, which comes under his domain of charges, on their unrelenting work towards betterment of tourist infrastructure even during these hard times.

The meeting also discussed the issues related to the promotion of tourism and preservation of heritage buildings. The Advisor directed the Secretary Tourism to explore the possibility of revival of water transport over Jehlum in convergence with Srinagar Municipal Committee and Handicrafts and Handloom department. He directed them to constitute a committee of officer to identify the spots along the banks of River Jehlum for establishment of handicrafts display kiosks and explore options for Heritage tourism in consultation with Department of Culture.