Srinagar, Feb 28: Secretary Tourism for the Government of India, Arvind Singh (IAS), who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday said that the domestic tourism is showing signs of revival and most encouraging reports are coming Jammu and Kashmir itself.

Talking to reporters in the side-lines of the 5th graduation ceremony of Snow Skiing course at Indian Institute of Skiing & Mountaineering Gulmarg, Arvind said that the government is confident that domestic tourism will grow back to its previous levels. He said that the most encouraging reports of revival are coming from Jammu and Kashmir, especially Gulmarg and Srinagar along with other parts of India.

Arvind said that the government is confident that domestic tourism will get back to pre-COVID levels once the vaccination programme is fully underway and the intensity of Covid-19 goes down. He said that only after that will the government consider opening of international tourism.

Arvind Singh (IAS), who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, visited the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering on the graduation ceremony of the Snow Skiing course. He was accompanied by Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India Gyan Bhushan, Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr. G. N. Itoo and Director Tourism Jammu, Naseem Shah Choudhary.

In his address at IISM, Singh said that those who aspire to become a part of the tourism industry after passing the 12th standard exams can be influenced to pursue courses related to tourism and that this sector brings good opportunities.

"IISM is conducting a course which can be done online, the course adds information regarding tourism," he said.

Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr. G. N. Itoo in his address said that along with tourists visiting Gulmarg for recreation, there were athletes visiting Gulmarg as well for the second edition of Winter National Games.

"The Tourism Department has extended the full support to JK Sports Council to make Khelo India a grand success, which ultimately will also help in attracting more tourists to the valley," he said.

Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Tourism Government of India, Gyan Bhushan on the occasion said they are going to make advance calendar training programmes in the future.

"We are also mulling infrastructural updates and adventure sports events in coming summers," he said—(KNO)