Sajad lone
Srinagar, Dec 11 (KNS): Secretary Tourism Department, Sarmad Hafeez on Saturday said that the department is organising several events so as to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir is made an all-season destination.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) on the sidelines of an event to mark International Mountain Day, Hafeez said that the reason behind celebrating this day was to invite the people all over the country to visit Jammu and Kashmir and enjoy the beauty.
He said that the department faced many challenges in 2020-2021, but it along with travel trade has lived upto the challenges and has tried to come up with this challenge more stronger. “Whenever a difficult situation arises, the department always tries to turn it to its advantage,” he said.
Hafeez said that he thinks that they have succeeded as tourism has again flourished in J&K. “We hope that future events and publicity campaigns will take Tourism of J&K to new heights.”
Replying to a question about winter preparations of tourism department, he said that this year for the first time ever Sonamarg will be open in winter months. “Besides, this all like Gulmarg-the winter wonderland, which provides most fantastic skiing experience, all other winter destinations will be open for tourists this winter.”
He also said that the department will be celebrating Christmas festival from 24th December and after that there will be new year celebrations in the winter destinations of the valley. “Besides that snow carnivals, Khelo India games etc will also be held at various winter destinations,” he added.
He said that in Jammu division also various events have been planned by the department at Patnitop and other tourist destinations. “The department will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir is made an all-season destination.
He further said that today they celebrated the International Mountain Day and the theme of the day was “Sustainable Mountain Tourism”.
“I feel that this is a kind of occasion which should be celebrated with full enthusiasm every year. It is the most important day for Tourism department as Jammu and Kashmir has the most beautiful mountains in the world.”
He said that there was a huge participation of mountaineers, trekkers, and everesters in this event today.
Hafiz said that a lady from Bangalore, who has done 50 treks and 50 high altitudes lakes in J&K in the last two months was also present in the event.
“Two mountaineers of Jammu and Kashmir who have scaled Mount Everest also participated in the mountain day celebrated by tourism department today,” he said. (KNS)