J&K’s tourism reviving, closed destinations reopening in phased manner: Commr Secy Tourism

By: Raja Syed Rather

Srinagar: Commissioner Secretary Tourism Department, Yasha Mudgal on Monday said that the tourism sector is reviving gradually and the footfall of visitors will rise again within the next few months.

Ms Mudgal said it is for the first time that the Tourism Secretaries Conference was held in Jammu and Kashmir, which usually takes place in New Delhi and is attended by the tourism secretaries from all the states and union territories.

“In the two-day conference, different sessions are taking place where discussion on different ideas, new policies, budget and other things is being held threadbare. Some good practices in other states are being discussed. Overall, it is a brainstorming session,” she said.

On the directions of Union Tourism Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Mudgal said the event was held in Srinagar, which was earlier planned in Pahalgam, but couldn’t take place there in wake of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. “A lot of destinations were being considered for the event and later it was held in Srinagar only on Union Minister’s directions,” she said.

Terming the two-day secretaries conference as the best event for MICE tourism, the Commissioner Secretary said that J&K is a favourite destination and the tourism sector is reviving gradually, with back-to-back events taking place with tourists visiting the valley once again.

“The government at the same time has put efforts for the revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also recently launched a train here to give a boom to the tourism sector. I am confident that the tourism sector will bounce back at par with the previous figures,” she said.

Mudgal added that the list of the destinations has been sought, that are presently closed post-Pahalgam attack. “Some of the destinations have already reopened while the others will reopen in phased manner,” she said. —(KNO)