Details

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 31 October 2018

• Delegates assure support to Kashmir tourism

SRINAGAR: After successful completion of Kashmir Autumn FAM Tour, the local travel trade bodies are upbeat about good tourist flow to Kashmir. The 3-day Kashmir Autumn FAM (familiarization) Tour-2018 was inaugurated by Governor Satya Pal Malik on October 25, 2018 in which over 70 delegates representing travel, media, and film industry participated.

Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK), the apex body of the travel trade in Kashmir, said Familiarization (FAM) tours of the leading travel agents and media persons from the country would prove fruitful for the State tourism. Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club Chairman Mushtaq Chaya said FAM tour has sent a positive message across the country that Kashmir is a safe tourist destination. He said Kashmir tourism needs such promotional activities.

Secretary-General TASK Ather Yameen said the Kashmir Autumn FAM tour would help in removing negative perception. TASK has urged the department of tourism to organize more FAM tours for travel agents, which, it said, would help improve tourist flow to Kashmir during the lean season of Autumn. Vice Chairman of Tourist Trade Interest Guild (TTIG) Bashir Karnai said the department has wonderfully conducted the FAM tour and everyone is upbeat about its positive outcome.

Vandana Kunder of Sterling Travel Service Pvt Limited, one of the delegates of the FAM Tour, said she has already made booking for a group who will be learning skiing at Gulmarg in February. Actress and Model Madhura Naik from Mumbai expressed happiness over her tour to Kashmir. She said she was highly thankful to the department of tourism for inviting them and giving them a chance to see paradise on Earth.

Amit Dhir, another delegate and travel agent from New Delhi, said it was very delightful and insightful four days in Kashmir. While thanking tourism department for its hospitality, Dhir who owns India Calling Tours, said he would promote Kashmir among his clients. Director Tourism Kashmir, Tasaduq Jeelani said he is hopeful of receiving good response from the travel agents of the country after the successful conduct of the FAM tour.

At the end of the FAM tour, the Director Tourism Kashmir held interaction with its staff and the delegates and thanked them for their efforts in making the FAM tour successful. He urged them to work with added zeal and zest for tourism promotion.