KL Report
SRINAGAR
The Director tourism Kashmir Talat Parvez Wednesday said that the recently held musical concert of Zubin Mehta at Shalimar Bagh here has helped explore new ventures for the tourism industry in the state. He said the people from European countries would in the coming time feel secure in visiting the valley.
Talking to Kashmir News Service, Parvez further stated that the US embassy had a recent meet with the tourism officials of the state and that the travel advisory will be revived by many countries across the world vis-à-vis Kashmir.
Mr. Parvez further said that he is optimistic that the results of the Zubin Mehta concert will be beneficent for the Kashmir’s tourism industry. “I believe that the results of the concert will be positive, we are getting the good response and people from European countries would feel secure in visiting the valley as they feel that if Mehta can have a concert here, there is no fear in visiting the charming valley.”
The Director tourism said that the winter tourism is the focal point of the department at present. “We are planning to have the national games festival here during the winter season and approval has sought from the authorities for these ventures.”
While commenting on the pilgrimage tourism of Kashmir, Director Tourism told Kashmir News Service that the state has lot of potential in attracting the tourists in large number for religious and pilgrimage tourism. “We have so many shrines and religious places across state which can be explored; the need of the hour is to explore these destinations.” He added that the state is concentrating mainly of the Middle East and central Asian countries for the religious tourism.
Mr. Parvez further told Kashmir News Service that the Middle East and the Central Asian countries love to visit the countries with mountains and lush green forests and that the department has worked hard to invite the travel agents of those countries here so that they could attract the masses to visit here.
“The countries like Saudi, Iran, Iraq and many central Asian regions share many things with Kashmir’s culture, we have the same food habits and we have many things in common.”
Wishing that Kashmir should have the extra budget for the marketing and advertisement campaigns, the director tourism said that Kashmir’s tourism industry needs special focus and consideration. “Whatever we are getting cant be termed enough to explore Kashmir’s tourism industry, the department needs to be more funded to meet the expenses.”
