Jammu and Kashmir tourism department participated in the India International Travel Mart (IITM) in Hyderabad which began on Friday. The travel mart was inaugurated by Secretary Tourism Telangana B Venkatesham. Commissioner of tourism Telangana, Sunita M Bhagwat also visited mart and interacted with the participants.Official spokesperson of the J&K tourism said the department participated in the travel mart as part of its sustained efforts to showcase state’s diversified tourism products to domestic and international travel professionals. The travel mart also provides an opportunity for the local travel agents and hoteliers to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business with the agents from the country and abroad.Hyderabad is considered an important market for the state of Jammu and Kashmir to promote leisure, adventure, pilgrimage, border, Golf and MICE tourism products.A delegation of officers including Assistant Director from Directorate of Tourism Kashmir Ifham Shah, Assistant Director from Directorate of Tourism Jammu Shazia Rehman and Accounts Officer from Directorate of Tourism Jammu Tariq Malik besides representative of Travel, Trade and Hospitality sector participated in the mart to promote different destinations of the state.
Large number of visitors and guests who visited J&K Pavilion showed keen interest and enquired about the most sought after destinations like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Yousmarg, Patnitop, Sanasar, Mansar, Bhaderwah, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji, Katra and Ladakh.
Delegation also highlighted the lesser known and upcoming destinations like Verinag, Aharbal, Mantalai, Rajouri, Surinsar, Suchetgarh, Shahdra Sharief Shrine, Peer ki Gali, Kargil.They also informed the visitors about the winter carnival being held in Gulmarg and Pahalgam this winter.On the first day of the festival, department screened short films to the visitors who were mesmerised with the state’s beauty.The department and also the travel agents distributed brochures, flyers and other publicity material highlighting the different destinations of the state among the visitors.
J&K Tourism Development Corporation also offered special packages and discount on its properties to the tourists visiting state during the Mart. &K officials informed them about the Convention Centers at Pahalgam, Srinagar, Jammu and Patnitop which the visitors said they would include in their itineraries and packages for the upcoming tourist season.Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood Ahmad Shah said the travel exhibitions provide unique opportunities to showcase tourism products and attract visitors. “Leading travel agents and other tourism professionals from across the country and other parts of the world turn up at these travel exhibitions to know the tourism products the states have to offer. “This gives an excellent opportunity to us to showcase our diverse range of destinations. We also provide space to local travel agents who also connect to their agents and sell packages,” said Director Tourism.He said the department will organise road shows, seminars and also participate in other leading travel marts outside the state as part of its sustained marketing campaigns especially for winter months and for next year.