~ Shreya Shimpi
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, J&K; Syed Qamar Sajad, Director, Tourism Kashmir, and other prominent members from the J&K Tourism Department.
Positioning tourism as an economic lifeline and a cultural responsibility, Omar Abdullah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of J&K, addressed the travel media, saying, “Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir goes beyond just the destination as it is a source of livelihood for thousands of families which are intrinsically linked to the tourism industry. The Government is exploring avenues that are naturally available. Tourism is a fickle and sensitive industry as it has experienced a grinding halt post the Pahalgam attack, but active efforts are being taken for its growth and revival”.
Speaking about Film Tourism, he said, “During our visit here, we have had interactions with the NFDC and the IICT. For me, the idea is not just for people to come and use the valley as a destination for filming songs and movies just as a backdrop. I want to create an ecosystem where part of the material and manpower requirement is met from within the valley itself. This will serve two advantages- it will make filming in J&K cheaper and will also create an avenue for employment. We also hope to do the same thing with the larger film industry beyond Bollywood, which would be the twin area of focus”.
“We are working closely with the Government of India to develop nine green-field projects with multi-lateral funding. These destinations will be developed to a very high standard in terms of sustainability and local employment. My message to my colleagues in the tourism industry in J&K is that our success is not bringing someone to Kashmir for the first time. It is in ensuring that they wish to come back again and again”.
He also threw light on promoting MICE, Border Tourism, and pilgrimage tourism. The evening concluded with a networking dinner with the key members of the travel trade fraternity, in which he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the travel associations and travel agents for helping tourism grow post the tragic attack.
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