Srinagar, Feb 12: Following the interactions with the tour and travel fraternity of Gujarat, Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir and the Maharashtra Tour Organizers Association (MTOA) on Friday organized a Webinar on the theme ‘Chalo Kashmir’.

The webinar panel comprised of the Director Tourism, Kashmir, Dr G N Itoo, Deputy Director, Tourism Publicity Ideel Saleem, besides Asif Burza, President Hoteliers Association Pahalgam, President MTOA, Prabhu Joshi, Vice President MTOA, Vishvajeet Patil, Treasurer MTOA, Rajan Parekh, Ex-President MTOA, Sudhir Patil, Ex Vice President, MTOA, Abhijeet Patil and others.

During the interaction, Dr Itoo presented the calendar of promotional activities slated for the upcoming spring and summer seasons, both within and outside J&K, including holding of Pahalgam Festival next week, Almond Bloom festival in spring at Badamwari Srinagar, Tulip Festival in April and Houseboat Festival in the summer. He said that the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir is working together with stakeholders to ensure that tourists arriving to Kashmir Valley have a comfortable stay.

He said other than Gulmarg, which continues to remain among the most preferred winter tourism destinations, the Department is also focusing on promoting other destinations including Pahalgam for winter tourism.

He said that this year, destinations like Sonmarg, Doodhpathri, Yusmarg, Kokernag will be opened early, so that tourists coming in the winter season can enjoy the scenic beauty of these places too.

Director Tourism also apprised about the measures put in place including those related to COVID to ensure that all tourists visiting J&K have a “comfortable and a memorable stay.” In response to some queries raised during the webinar, Dr Itoo assured MTOA of prompt resolution.

Asif Burza, President Pahalgam Hoteliers Association in his address appreciated the efforts of the Tourism Department in the “revival of tourism” amidst the COVID pandemic challenge. "Government was successful in containing COVID here and this proved to be the biggest confidence building measure for the tourists to visit Kashmir. The sustained and vigorous tourism promotional campaign started by the Tourism Department after opening of the tourism sector in July last year has been instrumental in tourists coming to Kashmir during the winter season," he said.

The MTOA President, Prabhu Joshi and other members spoke about their long association with J&K Tourism and reiterated their unconditional support and said that J&K will always remain among the most preferred destinations for the tour and travel fraternity of Maharashtra.