KL Report
SRINAGAR
Calling the tourism a tool of economic development for both urban, rural areas and to boost the sector, the Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Atul Dullo Wednesday said that state government contemplates to organize a chain of activities during current season.
As a part of the programme the Department of Tourism, Kashmir is organizing Tourist Festival of Kashmir from May 14 to 29, 2013 during which various activities will be held at famous Tourist Spots including Kashmir Haat, aimed at attracting large number of tourists and showcasing the handicrafts and other products of Kashmir.
As per a statement Commissioner Secretary was addressing a meeting of officers, tour operators and hoteliers, convened to review the arrangements being made to organize Festival of Kashmir on the scheduled dates.
Dullo has said, “The Festival spread over two weeks is first of its kind in which the state and central governments will jointly provide funds besides, private partners like Tour Operators, Hoteliers, Houseboat owners and other agencies related to tourism sector shall play a vital role in making the festival a success.”
Earlier, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Talat Pervez apprised the meeting about the steps taken by Tourism Department Kashmir to involve all the stakeholders to participate in this economy boosting activity of Kashmir Valley, ‘the Paradise on earth’.
Giving details of the Festival, Dullo has said that the inaugural function will be held at Kashmir Haat on May 14 and Minister for Tourism G A Mir will be the Chief Guest on the occasion. Minister of State for Tourism Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo and Secretary Tourism Government of India Parvez Dewan will be Guests of Honour.
He has also said that besides presentation of cultural bonanza, exhibition stalls will be set up to showcase various products of Art and Craft of Kashmir, horticulture produce, Agro based food products, Floral pictures, pictures of wildlife of Kashmir, Fish biotic life, Traditional Kashmiri Art, Clothing, Musical instruments, Kashmiri cuisine and live demo of preparation of Kashmiri cuisine. He said that on May 15, famous Qawal, Sabri brothers will present Qawali at SKICC, followed by Photography exhibition, Trekking Expedition at Zabarwan on days of the festival.
Students of various colleges will be taking part in debates, to be held at different locations on the title, “Tourism as a Tool for Economic Development of Rural areas”, during the festival, Dullo has added.
Among others the meeting was attended by Director Information, Zaffar Ahmad, Director Handicrafts, Salma Hamid, Secretary, Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages, Khalid Bashir Ahmad, Director Floriculture, Sunil Misri, Director Fisheries, RK Dogra, Regional Wild Life Warden, Kashmir, MA Tak, Director Colleges, Dr NalniKohli, Chairman, HBOA, AzimTuman, President TASK, M Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Gulmarg, Space Communications, and other Tourist Development Authorities of Valley and Travel Agents
