Srinagar, Oct 04 (KNS): Continuing with its promotional campaign, the department of tourism Kashmir organized FAM tours for both domestic and foreign travel agents.
The domestic travel agents have come from the cities like Mumbai, Nagpur, Delhi, and Ahmadabad while as the foreign travel agents visited Valley from Thailand.
Nattinee Shrestha of Himalayan Holidays visited Kashmir along with other 12 travel agents from Thailand to see by themselves if travellers in Kashmir are safe.
To her surprise, she found the travellers were not only safe but enjoying the most among the locals here.
“There has been lot of negative publicity going on about Kashmir. Before sending tourists to Kashmir, we wanted to visit here and we found everything is good. I appreciate how people are so nice and friendly with the tourists. Tourists are totally enjoying their holidays here,” says Shrestha.
Shrestha has been sending groups from Thailand for many years.
However, this year, she decided to visit Kashmir herself to see the new hotels, facilities, infrastructural development and newly developed off-beat destinations.
“Many new hotels have come up and we are happy about that. Kashmir is a unique place and people from many countries seek travel packages for this place. You have unique features in every season and above all, this place is safer than any other tourist destinations. Female tourists can roam freely without any threat,” she says.
These travel agents not only visited the prominent destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg but wished to visit off-beat destinations.
“We visited Doodpathri. It is an amazing place with vast meadows and very calm environs. We have many travellers from busy cities who want to visit such places. Next year, I am making plans to bring at least 1000 travellers from Thailand to Kashmir,” says Shrestha.
The travel agents also visited local handicraft weaving centers and purchased embroidered gowns and other handicraft items.
Each of them of wore those beautifully embroidered gowns during their entire tour.
Best, another travel agent from Thailand said Kashmir for her is one of the best places to visit.
“We purchased the best handicraft items which we can gift to our relatives and loved ones.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel”
The Department of Tourism Kashmir had organized road show in August this year in Thailand and convinced travel agents to visit Kashmir on FAM tour.
Meana Travels Pvt Ltd host the FAM tour in Kashmir for Thai agents.
Another travel group drawn from many Indian cities also share beautiful experience.
The group arrived in Srinagar on September 30 and visited Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Mughal gardens in Srinagar.
Satish Shah who is the MD of one the leading travel companies Pooja Tours and Travels in Mumbai has been selling Kashmir for last 20 years.
He is disappointed at low tourist influx to Kashmir which, he said, is just because of wrong notion among the travellers.
“We are trying to convince travellers to visit Kashmir. If someone has visited this place 40 years ago for honeymoon, their children also want to visit here. Kashmir has natural attraction but only media is playing spoilsport,” says Satish.
Another travel agent Pankaj Chheda of Hazel Treks and Tours believes Kashmir is a ‘hot cake and can sell anytime’.
“We get many requests for Kashmir and we spend lakhs of rupees on producing publicity material for this place. We are hopeful of tourist arrivals in autumn and winter months,” says Cheeda.
Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah said the FAM tours are part of tourism promotional campaigns of the department which helps attract travellers and build positive opinion among travel agents who bring tourists.
“Now travel agents have themselves visited our destinations, and the hotel properties here. They will go back with beautiful memories and send tourists to Valley,” said Director Tourism.
The department is expecting tourist arrivals to pick up in ongoing autumn and upcoming winter months.
“Tourist arrivals have already started picking up. Our aggressive marketing campaign is bearing fruit. We have been very aggressive on social media which has helped dilute the negative perception,” said Mahmood A Shah, adding, “We are hopeful of good arrivals in autumn and winter.”
Deputy Directors Riyaz Beigh, Peerzada Zahoor and Waseem Raja also interacted with the travel agents. (KNS)