Hyderabad, Feb 12: The Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) on Wednesday organised a B2B Networking Meet in Hyderabad, aiming to strengthen tourism collaboration between Jammu & Kashmir and the southern states of India.
The event brought together leading travel professionals and heads of prominent travel associations from Hyderabad and Telangana, marking a significant outreach effort to boost tourist inflow to Kashmir.
Among the key attendees were NSN Mohan, Vice President of SKAL International; Hari Krishan Valmiki, Deputy Auditor of Skål International; Avneet Sonthalia, Secretary of SKAL Hyderabad; Nagesh Pampati, Chairman, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Telangana and Andhra Pradesh; Irfan Ali, President of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Hyderabad; Liaqat Ali, President of the Travel Operators Association of Telangana (TOAT); Sujana Kumar, Vice President, TOAT; and Siraj Ansari, Head of the United Federation of Travel & Tourism Chambers of Commerce (UFTCC).
The meet was inaugurated by Farooq Kuthoo, President, TAAK, who described tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and cultural exchange. He highlighted Kashmir’s potential as a premier destination for leisure, honeymoon and adventure tourism, and emphasised the benefits of closer partnerships between the two regions.
Kuthoo also noted strong interest from members of the film fraternity in shooting projects in Kashmir’s scenic landscapes, stating that such engagements further reinforce the region’s standing as a destination for both tourism and film production.
The B2B discussions covered a wide spectrum of tourism segments, including MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), leisure travel, honeymoon packages and adventure tourism. Travel agents and tour operators from Hyderabad and surrounding areas engaged with visiting delegates from Kashmir to explore emerging travel trends, innovative offerings and sustainable tourism practices.
Sajad Ahmad Kralyari, Secretary General, TAAK, said the initiative would help unlock new opportunities for mutual growth between Kashmir and Telangana/Andhra Pradesh, strengthen trade relations and enhance tourist exchange.
The event was also attended by Manvi, General Manager – Marketing and PR, Water Fleet & Finance, Telangana Tourism, who assured full support in fostering stronger tourism collaboration between stakeholders in Kashmir and Hyderabad.
From Jammu & Kashmir Tourism, Mohammad Sajid Kirmani, Tourist Officer, Hyderabad, interacted with delegates and travel agents. The department also distributed publicity material showcasing Kashmir’s diverse tourism products and experiences.
TAAK expressed confidence that the relationships forged during the networking meet would contribute to increasing tourist arrivals from southern India and reaffirmed its commitment to organising similar engagements across the country to strengthen Kashmir’s position as a leading tourism destination.
