Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approached Centre to impress upon various foreign countries to have re-look at the adverse travel advisories they have issued to their citizens against visiting Kashmir.
The spokesman of the Government and Education Minister, Naeem Akhtar told a news conference at the conclusion of three day Kashmir Travel Mart here at SKICC that the Government has approached Central Government to raise the issue with various countries which have issued adverse travel advisories. He said lifting of adverse travel advisories will revive the foreign tourist traffic to Kashmir.
He said that the such kind of tourism promotion event will be made an annual feature now. “It will be added to the international tourism promotion calendar. The slot will be fixed and it will be adjusted in the international calender”, he added.
The Minister said that 185 national and 24 international buyers participated in the Kashmir Travel Mart which was held first time after 1988. He said that the event has been held to dispel the fears which the tour operators had about Kashmir after last year’s devastating floods.
Akhtar said with last year’s floods and this year’s seasonal rains caused flood like situation in Kashmir leading to drop in the tourist traffic to Kashmir. He said that there were cancellations of tourist arrivals in March and April this year but the tourist traffic of late has shown increase.
The official spokesman credited the rise in tourist traffic to the visit of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to Mumbai and Gujrat. He said that today 27 flights are operating from Srinagar Airport which indicates rise in tourist arrivals.
Akhtar said that Government is trying to make Kashmir an all season destination. He said that there will be massive discounts during lean period of July and September.
The Minister said that the recent film shoots in Kashmir is an encouraging sign. He said that two more Bollywood banners are coming to Kashmir soon. He said Bollywood will get clearance for shooting in just one week. He said that the Government has made the clearance process easy and will give full security and cooperation to them but won’t charge them any fee.
Akhtar said that road infrastructure is being improved in Kashmir especially the highway between Qazigund and Srinagar and between Srinagar and Narbal. He said that Government has managed to get the payment of Ramkay which is constructing the highway between Qazigund and Srinagar released so that the speed of the work on the project is increased.
The Minister said that Cabinet has given its nod that the companies entrusted with the construction of roads have to maintain it for three years.
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