Gulmarg, June 01: Director Tourism Kashmir Dr. GN Itoo Tuesday visited Gulmarg and convened a meeting of concerned agencies to review the status of departmental assets and ongoing COVID vaccine drive at the famous ski resort.

Laying emphasis on strengthening of assets at the resort, Dr Itoo asked the executing agencies to ensure that all the pending projects are completed at the earliest so that these are ready once the tourism picks up again as the COVID situation improves.

He also sought immediate repair works and restoration of the tourist infrastructure.

The director informed the meeting that the department is celebrating ‘World Environment Day’ across Kashmir during which awareness programmes on protection of fragile environment will be carried out. He directed the officers to involve local population and stakeholders in the awareness campaigns and also conduct cleanliness drives at the resort.

During the meeting, he also reviewed the pace of vaccination among tourism stakeholders. He was informed that around 90 percent of the hotel staff, tourist guides, ponywallas, and other service providers at the resort have been covered under the special immunization programme.

While expressing satisfaction at the pace of vaccination of people associated with the travel and hospitality sector, the director urged the officers and other staff to encourage the people to come forward for vaccination so that 100 percent target is achieved.

Dr GN Itoo said hotel staff and travel guides are the frontline workers in the tourism sector who need to be immunised and protected by vaccination which he said was also important for the revival of the tourism sector.

The meeting was attended by MD J&K Cable Car Corporation, Majid Khalil Drabu, CEO GDA, Inam ul Haq Siddiqui, AD Gulmarg besides other officers and staff members.

In a separate meeting with tourism stakeholders, Dr Itoo impressed upon them to seize on the opportunity and further improve their services so that tourists leave back with sweet memories.