Srinagar
In a recently held Road Show organised by KCC&I with the support of the State Tourism Department in Malaysia, the President KCC&I, Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad thanked the Malaysian Tour Operators for their support of the tourism sector of Kashmir.
The spokesman said that President requested the Indian High Commissioner to take up the demand of the tourism sector for direct flights to Srinagar. The KCC&I would also be requesting private airlines like Air Asia & Indigo to operate direct flights as it was a growing sector with healthy demand.
He also urged the Tour Operators to explore the possibility of devising new circuits within the State which should include newer destinations. Dr. Mubeen Shah, the former President of KCCI during his address also requested the MOBTO to devise longer duration packages for Kashmir instead of the usual 2/3 nights program as one can’t see enough of Kashmir in just 3 days.
Nikhilesh Giri Deputy High Commissioner of India who was the Guest of Honour assured all support to KCCI and J&K Tourism to encourage more Malaysians to visit Kashmir and urged State Tourism Department to display more publicity material at the twin offices of High Commissions for distribution to all the tourists who approach them for VISA. Others who also spoke on this occasion were Thangavellu, President of MITTA & Pradeep, Chairman of Communications – MATTA.
Later President KCC&I, Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad announced FAM Tour of 50 Tour operators which will be jointly managed by MITTA & MATTA and jointly hosted by KCC&I with logistic support from our Hoteliers, Tour Operators and Houseboat Owners. Chief Guest of the function, YB Muhammad Bakhtiar Bin Wan Chik, Hon’ble Dy. Minister Tourism & Culture of Malaysia assured his ministries support to J&K Tourism and KCCI for future promotions in Malaysia. Spokesperson of the tour operators assured the delegations that at least One Hundred Thousand tourists would visit Kashmir from Malaysia. Vote of Thanks was presented by Treasurer KCCI, Mr Manzoor A Pakhtoon.
Later, President KCCI, along with Office bearers called on the Indian High Commissioner & First Secretary. A wide range of issues regarding Trade, Commerce & Tourism where discussed, wherein the High Commissioner requested President, KCCI to participate in the Malaysia Heritage Expo scheduled to take place in June. The High Commissioner assured full support to the participants of KCCI.
A spokesman of the KCC&I stated that the Kashmir Chamber will make all out efforts to defeat the motivated propaganda by vested interests, intended to target economy of Kashmir and to prevent people from interacting with Kashmiri people. He said that it was unfortunate how social media, some selected TV Channels and print media were being used to spread false and misleading news. The divisive elements were attempting to influence the secular and unbiased opinion of a majority of people by exhorting them not to visit Kashmir.
In this hour, it is the responsibility of all public thinkers, intellectuals and members of the civil society to expose elements behind these sinister campaigns. Time has come to ask uncomfortable questions and seek answers from those busy in distortion of facts. A true picture of Kashmir awaits unprejudiced minds to see for themselves how far from reality the obfuscation is. We are proud, as ever, of our hospitality, humanitarian values and secular ethos.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce urges all secular and right-thinking individuals, interested in knowing the truth to see how negative image of our place and people is projected.
