SRINAGAR: Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) outlined efforts to broaden the tourism footprint in J&K.
“We are working on a project called SPREAD, aimed at developing nine new tourist destinations in both Kashmir and Jammu, with expected support from multilateral funding agencies,” he said while addressing the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Revival Dialogue’ organized jointly by FICCI and the Department of Tourism, J&K at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
He was of the view that it was collective duty of the government and tourism stakeholders to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s position as the country’s pre-eminent tourist destination and ensure it remains so, spokesperson said in a statement.
“It is binding on us that we do verything in our power to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir goes back to its position as the pre-eminent tourist destination in the country and then stays there,” the Chief Minister said in his address, highlighting that the government is working on new initiatives focused primarily on improving the overall tourist experience.
Reflecting on the recent challenges, the Chief Minister recounted the sharp contrast between the optimism of April 21 and the downturn of April 22, referring to a sudden drop in tourist footfall following the unfortunate incident. “From flying over Dal Lake and seeing hundreds of shikaras to seeing none just days later—it was a brutal reminder that the past can intrude into our present and, God forbid, our future,” he said.
He acknowledged the volatility that tourism in J&K has witnessed over the decades and emphasized the importance of resilience. “Unlike most other places where tourism planning can be done for years ahead, here we plan week to week. But still—we plan, and we persist,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to FICCI and the larger tourism fraternity for standing by Jammu & Kashmir in both good and challenging times.
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