Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who yesterday chaired a cabinet meeting in world famous tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir, on Wednesday chaired an official meeting in ski resort of Gulmarg to instil confidence among the tourists and pave way for revival of tourism in Kashmir post April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Omar held a meeting with his council of ministers, Administrative secretaries and senior HoDs in the picturesque Gulmarg today.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javed Ahmed Dar, Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Member of Legislative Assembly Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Dheeraj Gupta.
All Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, senior police officers, heads of several departments, CEO Tourism Development Authority Gulmarg and other officials were also present.
The meeting came a day after a cabinet meeting was held in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam tourist resort.
The back to back meetings in Pahalgam and Gulmarg by CM were held with an aim to revive tourism in the Valley, which has been badly hit by the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam.
On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at Pahalgam killing 25 tourists and a local pony wala.
The CM’s visit is aimed at infusing new hope among stakeholders and increase the chances of a turnaround after the tourist season this year was washed out due to the terror attack.
After chairing the meeting at the Gulmarg Club nestled in the meadows and surrounded by mighty pine trees and sparsely snow-clad mountains, Omar took a Gondola (cable car) ride to Kongdori, a bowl-shaped area that lies between Gulmarg and the summit of Apharwat mountain range where the first phase of the ropeway ends.
At Kongdori, a group of tourists from Gujarat and Mumbai requested the chief minister’s security detail for a meeting with Abdullah.
The chief minister promptly acknowledged the request. He met the tourists with warm handshakes and smiles, and sought from them feedback about their Kashmir visit.
Omar lauded the courage of the tourists, and happily posed for photographs and selfies with them.
The warmth and love the chief minister attracted were reflected by his council of ministers and senior bureaucrats as well.
The CM appealed to the tourists to promote the Valley as a safe and peaceful destination.
The visitors expressed gratitude for Kashmir’s hospitality. They lauded the government for the arrangements that made their stay comfortable.
“Met tourists at Gulmarg and was pleased to hear their encouraging feedback. Their joy and appreciation reflect the growing confidence in Kashmir as a welcoming and vibrant destination,” Omar posted on X.
He also met tourism stakeholders in Gulmarg.