Secretary, Tourism, Culture & Youth Services & Sports, Sarmad Hafiz today said the Department is taking all steps to redress the issues of tourism stakeholders even as various promotional activities have been undertaken since the Unlocking for tourism sector began in Jammu & Kashmir.
Interacting with various deputations of tourism stakeholders which met him here today, Sarmad Hafiz informed the deputations that eversince the tourism sector was thrown open in the unlocking process, the Department has initiated series of events aimed at tourism promotion which has generated a good number of queries for coming winter season. He said the Department is planning many such activities in coming months also as the COVID situation improves.
Terming Houseboats as the icon of local heritage, the Tourism Secretary advised the unit holders to maintain the heritage quotient of their units and not fall prey to the rush of change and modernity. He said the Department is planning events in coming months to promote this unique asset of the sector.
Deputations of Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association (KHBOA), Nigeen Tourist Trade Association (NTTA) and other representatives of tourism trade met the Tourism Secretary. They apprised him about their problems and sought their redressal.
Earlier, Sarmad Hafiz reviewed the functioning of offices of the Tourism Department outside Jammu & Kashmir in a meeting of officers of the Department. He impressed upon the Tourist officers manning these offices to remain in close liaison with the local tour & travel industries and apprise the Department about the emerging travel preferences in their local markets from time to time.
Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani and other senior officers were present on the occasion.