Srinagar, Aug 26: The positive impact of the G20 meetings held in Srinagar earlier this year has proven to be a game-changer for the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir, said Secretary Tourism, Syed Abid Rashid Shah.
With a surge in foreign tourist arrivals, the Union Territory is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in its tourism landscape, he said.
Speaking during a sideline event of Cultural Kaarwan at Tagore Hall, the Secretary of Tourism revealed that the record for international tourist visits from the previous year was shattered even before the close of July this year. Anticipation is rife that this year will mark an all-time high in the influx of international tourists, he added.
Highlighting the pivotal role of the G-20 meeting held in May, Shah attributed the remarkable shift in the sector to this global gathering. The subsequent effect has been the remarkable increase in the number of tourists flocking to the region.
To ensure that the vibrancy of the Union Territory remains intact, the tourism department is actively participating in both national and international tourist expos, extensively promoting J&K tourism. An innovative approach to promotion is evident in the recent deployment of officials from the Department of Tourism Kashmir to Ahmedabad. These officials are engaged in promoting tourism across various parts of the city, underlining the comprehensive efforts being made to engage potential visitors, he added. Shah underlined the correlation between the growing demand in the sector and the expansion of infrastructure. He unveiled the department’s plan, which entails identifying and developing 75 offbeat destinations, along with 75 cultural, heritage, and spiritual sites for religious tourism.
In addition to these endeavours, the department is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to make Jammu and Kashmir a preferred destination for travellers across the country. The results are already visible, as this year has witnessed a staggering 1.27 crore tourists visiting J&K, far exceeding the corresponding figures from the previous year. “We hope to see record-breaking tourist arrivals by the year end. We are setting up tourist infrastructure everywhere in the UT,” Shah said.
