Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, advisor to Jammu and Kashmir governor, inaugurated the Kashmir conclave in Mumubai last evening which saw the presence of tourism stakeholders from the state, their counterparts from Maharashtra and Bollywoood faces.
“The evening also saw the presence of Rigzin Samphel, IAS, Secretary Tourism, Govt of J & K as the Guest of Honor along with other distinguished guests- Sudhir Patil, President, Maharashtra Tour Operators association (MTOA), Mushtaq A. Chaya Chairman, J & K Hoteliers Club,” said a statement issued after the event. “With Active support from MTOA, Well known faces from Bollywood were seen including Shahbaz Khan, Imran Khan, Muzamil Ibrahim etc.”
“We recently met in Taj Vivanta at Srinagar under the chairmanship of Mushtaq A. Chaya. The kind of media publicity that Kashmir Tourism got on Kashmir situation it was felt that we need to come & interact with the stakeholders of rest of the country & particularly starting with Mumbai & the surrounding areas because that is where we receive the maximum tourists,” said Ganai, while inaugurating the event.
He said Jammu & Kashmir, especially Kashmir and Ladakh attract the maximum tourists from all around the world. “The Govt will do & has always been doing for their people, for example we organize Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir which again attracts a lot of people from India. As you know the common people of Kashmir are peace loving, they want the tourist to be extremely comfortable, we want tourist to come & be our guests. We will do everything, whatever is possible for us to do that you are comfortable & safe,” he said.
Sudhir Patil, President, Maharashtra Tour Operators association (MTOA) said: “The introduction of cable car at patnitop which is starting around 16th or 20th April, 2019, is being done in collaboration with European partners. This as a result will flourish Jammu & Kashmir Tourism. Thank you for coming all the way & thank you for sharing, associated with Maharashtra Tour Operators association we have a long bonding.”
He said J&K and Maharashtra have traditionally been very connected with each other as far as the tourism industry is concerned. “J&K has the privilege of receiving the highest number of travellers from the State of Maharashtra. J&K, which is number one tourism destination as for as its pristine beauty is concerned, enjoys full support from the people of Maharashtra and also by its Bollywood filmmakers for long,” he said.
“It is in the light of the love shown by the people of Maharashtra that the Department of Tourism J&K Government along with the travel and hospitality sector of the State conduct road shows throughout the country, attend Travel Marts in the cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to strengthen this bond further.”
He said the sensuous beauty of Kashmir has attracted hundreds of filmmakers and the iconic films the Bollywood industry has ever produced since 1960s. “The popular eternal romantic songs like “Yahoo! Chahe mujhe koi junglee kahe”, “Yeh chaand sa roshan chehra”, Ae Nargise Mastana” Pardesiyon se na akhiyaan milana, has immortalized the beauty of Kashmir wooing hearts for generations from across the country especially the State of Maharashtra,” said Patil.
In order to rejuvenate the bond, a delegation of more than 40 members from the travel and hospitality sector of the State of J&K participated in the J&K Tourism Conclave.
More than 200 travel agents/tour operator/destination management companies/tourism promoters from Maharashtra and Gujarat participated in the event to show their support for the tourism sector of the J&K State.
According to a recent report by Government of India, J&K is the safest State in the country for traveller’s especially female solo travellers. The recent report by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Government of India, said there has not been a single incident of crime against tourists, including females, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Another report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) says not a single crime was committed against tourists who visited Jammu and Kashmir.
“Both Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Govt. of India and National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports have made the state proud. Unfortunately, the State of J&K has become a victim of negative propaganda, which can be countered by the support of all media houses/channels to create the positive perception about J&K State as whole and Kashmir in particular,” said the statement.
Scores of the solo woman travellers including others travelling in family and groups have visited Kashmir and they have been freely enjoying their holidays and have also minced no bones about describing the safety and rich hospitality of the people of the J&K State, it said.
“Currently, we are receiving a huge number of travellers from within and outside the country enjoying the unmatched beauty of the State. We appeal you to portray thousands of positive stories that emerge from people and tourists visiting the J&K State and make it one of the preferred tourist destinations of the country. In the larger National Interest, tourism has to continue and this is the only way out to bridge the gap between different cultures and religions which will strengthen the National Integration,” added the statement. “Kashmir Calling- Your comfort is our responsibility.”
