News Brief
Sixty-Member Tour Operators' Group Begin 'Solidarity' Trip To Kashmir Weeks After Pahalgam Terror Attack, Meet CM Abdullah In Pahalgam
Kashmir (File Photo)
A 60-member group of tour operators from across the country has started a "solidarity" trip to Kashmir in response to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's calls for a return of tourists to the Valley after the industry suffered greatly after the Pahalgam terror attack last month.
Following the terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April that resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists, this is the first group of tour operators from outside of Jammu and Kashmir to visit the Valley.
The government's plans to boost tourism are anticipated to benefit from the visit.
In addition, the government intends to erect a memorial for the victims of the terror attack.
The visitors, who are led by Abhijeet Patil of Maharashtra, met CM Omar Abdullah in Pahalgam on Tuesday (27 May). They include representatives of 26 major tour operators.
“This tour is more of a solidarity trip with the people of Kashmir to celebrate bonhomie,” Patil, from Raja Rani Travels was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Following the attack, Patil claimed that Maharashtra tour operators had contacted the Chief Minister. “Initially, we were 10-12 operators. But then it went up, and today we are 60 members here (in Pahalgam),” he said. “The entire travel industry is being represented, and it is beyond our expectations. We wanted to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir and send the right kind of message.”
In an attempt to boost visitor confidence, Chief Minister Abdullah met with both Valley tourism stakeholders and tour operators from outside J&K following a Cabinet meeting in Pahalgam.
Patil stated that all they wanted from the government was accurate and timely information, not any assurances.
“To be honest, we are here on a friendship trip and we want to build on that,” he said.
The government of J&K has made the decision to erect a memorial for the people who were killed in the terror attack on 22 April. The site of the tourists' deaths, the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, will host the memorial.
In an attempt to bring visitors back to the Valley, the J&K government also intends to take part in travel and tour festivals throughout the nation.
“We are exploring how best we can participate in the upcoming travel fairs, especially TTF Kolkata and Ahmedabad,” Omar said.
“We are working with stakeholders and tourism officials… We hope that, God willing, with the successful culmination of the Amarnath Yatra, we can tap into some traffic from West Bengal during Puja holidays,” the Chief Minister said.
