Director Tourism Kashmir Chairs Meeting with J&K SnowShoe Association

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir is set to host the 10th National SnowShoe Championship 2026, with events planned at Sonamarg and Gulmarg, marking a major boost to winter sports and adventure tourism in the region.
This was announced during a meeting chaired by Director Tourism Kashmir, Syed Qamar Sajad, who recently assumed charge, with the J&K SnowShoe Association to discuss the conduct of SnowShoe running events across Kashmir during the upcoming winter season.
The J&K SnowShoe Association delegation was led by its President, Tariq Ghani, and included General Secretary Dr. Altaf ur Rehman and Senior Member Reyaz Wani. The meeting was also attended by Joint Director Tourism Waseem Raja, General Manager J&K Cable Car Corporation Reyaz Malik, Assistant Director Tourism Gulmarg Tahir Wani, Assistant Director Tourism Recreation Mudasir Tak, and noted adventure tourism and winter sports expert Rauf Tramboo.
During the meeting, President Tariq Ghani briefed the Director Tourism on the vast potential of SnowShoe running as a winter sport, highlighting its ability to revive winter tourism across Kashmir. He emphasized that SnowShoe events can be organized in any area with minimal snowfall, as the sport requires no major infrastructure or expensive equipment, making it ideal for widespread promotion.
Ghani informed the meeting that the SnowShoe Federation of India has granted hosting rights of the 10th National SnowShoe Championship 2026 to Jammu & Kashmir, and sought full support from the Tourism Department for organizing the championship and other SnowShoe events during the winter season. He assured full cooperation and technical support from the J&K SnowShoe Association.
While reviewing the proposed activities, Director Tourism Syed Qamar Sajad announced that the championship will be inaugurated at Sonamarg, while the closing ceremony will be held at Gulmarg, ensuring a grand and high-profile event. He directed the concerned officials to begin preparations immediately and to chalk out a comprehensive calendar of winter sport activities.
The Director further stated that the Tourism Department will conduct SnowShoe events at Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Dodapathri, Yousmarg, and Sonamarg, and efforts will be made to explore additional destinations, including lesser-known areas, for winter sports promotion.
Welcoming Syed Qamar Sajad as Director Tourism Kashmir, Tariq Ghani said,
“It is heartening to see a person of such calibre taking charge as Director Tourism Kashmir. I have known Syed Qamar Sajad for long and am confident in his ability to revolutionize the tourism sector. Being a sports enthusiast himself, and with adventure and winter sports forming the backbone of tourism, I am sure he will play a vital role in reviving both sectors.”
He added,
“The J&K SnowShoe Association is fully geared up for the winter season. Today’s meeting was extremely fruitful, and it is encouraging that Sonamarg and Gulmarg will host the 10th National SnowShoe Championship 2026, while multiple SnowShoe events will be organized across Kashmir, including lesser-explored areas.”
Speaking on the occasion, Rauf Tramboo highlighted that SnowShoe is an integral part of the winter sports ecosystem and has the potential to emerge as a premier winter sport, given its low-cost nature and minimal infrastructure requirements. He assured full support from the Winter Sports Association of J&K to the Directorate of Tourism Kashmir and the J&K SnowShoe Association for successful conduct of the events.
The initiative is expected to significantly enhance winter tourism, promote adventure sports, and provide new opportunities for athletes and local communities across the region.