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Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Making efforts to improve tourist experience: Omar
The Jammu and Kashmir government is making efforts to woo tourists, including steps to improve their overall experience, chief minister Omar Abdullah said, addressing the collapse of the sector following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. He was at the start of 'Rally for the Valley: Let's go to Jammu and Kashmir', a tourism revival initiative by the Travel Agents Association of India(TAAI). 'Tourists have a journey or an experience. That they go home and tell others about it and I think there are lessons we've all learned over the past few months,' Omar, who is also the tourism minister, said in his speech on Wednesday evening. Tourist arrivals in J&K dipped to near zero after the attack at Baisaran meadow that claimed 26 lives, 25 tourists and a local. The Valley also saw an exodus of tourists immediately after the attack. The industry took a further dip amid the military confrontation between India and Pakistan from May 7 to 10. Omar reiterated that the J&K government is using this time to improve infrastructure and overall visitor experience. 'I have already given instructions to the cable car corporation to upgrade the gondola in Gulmarg so that capacity is increased, ticketing is improved and the overall experience is enhanced. The same applies to other tourist attractions in J&K,' he said. He extended his gratitude to the TAAI delegation and its president Sunil Kumar for visiting Kashmir. 'Let me express deep gratitude, not just from my side or from the government's side, but on behalf of everyone connected with tourism in Kashmir—thank you for being here and for giving us this boost,' he said. On the Pahalgam attack, he emphasised the importance of learning from the past. 'It's hard to talk about the future without looking back to understand how we got here. The tragic incident on April 22 in Baisaran must never be forgotten,' he said. On the improvement in connectivity, he highlighted the addition of rail services to the region: 'Today, Kashmir has a railway network. You were able to cross the highest railway bridge in the world—which is a testament to the hard work of engineers and the companies that built it. You crossed the only cable-stayed railway bridge in the country. And you did this in a region of extreme challenges,' he said.
India Gazette
12-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Our relationship with Leh and Ladakh will become stronger: J-K CM advisor Nasir Aslam Wani
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 12 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's advisor Nasir Aslam Wani on Thursday said that J-K's relationship with Leh and Ladakh will become stronger. He was speaking about a visit by a 30-member delegation of the Kashmir Travel Agents Association to Kargil. Wani stated that when the government is worried about promoting tourism in the region, it tries to promote it in Kargil as well. Aslam Wani considered the issue a 'big deal' and said that the primary interest of the government is the development of tourism in the region. 'Our relationship with Leh and Ladakh will become stronger. When we worry about promoting tourism in our region, we try to promote tourism in Kargil. This is a big deal. You can guess that we have no vested interest in all this. The primary interest is the development of tourism in the region', he told ANI. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah met with the delegates of the Travel Agents Association of India in Srinagar. 'Chief Minister met the delegates from the Travel Agents Association of India today in Srinagar. He appreciated their continued support in promoting J&K as a premier travel destination and assured all steps will be taken for enhancing tourism infrastructure & ease of doing business', an 'X' post from Jammu and Kashmir CMO said. Earlier on Tuesday, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) initiated a campaign called 'Rally for Valley' to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir after the terror attack in Pahalgam. The association aims to showcase the region as a safe destination and support the local livelihood dependent on tourism. 'The primary purpose of this campaign is to promote J-K as a safe tourist destination and support local livelihood. Around 75 travel company heads from across India are participating in the campaign,' said Sunil Kumar, the president of The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). 'We are committed to the revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. As the President of TAAI, I recall our successful convention in Srinagar in 2018, attracting 700 agents from across India and transforming the region. Following the recent Pahalgam incident, we couldn't remain silent. We've launched the 'Rally for Valley' campaign to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir again, ' added Sunil Kumar, President of TAAI. The group will visit tourist destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonmarg to gather feedback from local tourism stakeholders. The association will submit reports to the Tourism Minister, and each state member will share insights with their local governments. (ANI)
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Top travel agents across India visit Kashmir to revive tourism post Pahalgam attack
SRINAGAR: As tourism in the Valley has been badly hit by the Pahalgam terror attack, leading travel agents from across the country are visiting Kashmir to help revive tourism in the region. At least 70 members of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), India's premier and largest travel trade association with over 2500 members, are on a three-day visit to Kashmir as part of the initiative 'Rally for the Valley' from June 10-12. TAAI members have held interactions with local tourism stakeholders, including travel agents, hoteliers, houseboat owners, entrepreneurs and government officials on how to revive tourism in Kashmir again. The TAAI's held an event in a Srinagar hotel yesterday which was attended by local tourism stakeholders and also Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Speaking on the occasion, CM Omar said the government is working to improve the experience of tourists coming to J&K, maintaining that tourists who come to Kashmir should want to return. "Tourists have a journey or an experience. They go home and tell others about it. I think there are lessons we've all learned over the past few months," Omar said and reiterated that J&K government is using this time to improve infrastructure and overall visitor experience. The CM said, the TAAI delegation's visit under such circumstances is a true reminder of the association's commitment to J&K and their relationship with the region.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Resume direct flights, reduce hotel tariffs to revive tourism in Kashmir'
Srinagar: The travel trade industry has appealed to airlines to resume flights to Srinagar that were discontinued after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 so that tourism in Kashmir can revive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While all flights to Srinagar, Jammu and over two dozen other areas were suspended in May, as India conducted air strikes against terror hubs in Pakistan, some services including direct flights from Kolkata to Srinagar by IndiGo Airlines and Air India Express have not resumed after hostilities ceased on May 10. IndiGo has indicated that it will resume the direct flight from June 16. Last month, TOI wrote about the 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, a strong community-tourism industry connect initiative launched by the Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI), which handles around 4 lakh tourists from Kolkata in a year, around 40,000 of whom travel to Kashmir. Taking the campaign forward, TAAI started a new campaign called Rally for Valley to boost tourism in Kashmir. "We are in talks with the Union govt as well as airlines and hotel bodies to put a cap on tariffs that can help us shape attractive packages for tourists," said TAAI president Sunil Kumar. "As for safety, we are visiting the valley with our families. Tourists have nothing to fear. People here are among the most hospitable. This is the best time to visit the Valley," he added. Over 15 lakh tourists visited Kashmir last year. The Valley was packed with tourists again this year before the terror attack triggered mass cancellations. The downturn in tourists has hit Kashmiris hard. "In April, we were charging Rs 5,000 for a round trip to Pahalgam from Srinagar. Now we are taking tourists even for Rs 3,000," said Md Rouf, a driver. Restaurants like Lazeez, which had to turn down guests two months back, are now giving special offers to fill tables. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Very few rooms have been booked across several hotels. Had it not been for the terror attacks, these hotels would have been packed. These hotels should take a Covid-time-like approach and cut down on tariffs. We have set ourselves a target until Sept this year by when we intend to revive tourism back in Kashmir," said TAAI chairman (east) Anjani Dhanuka. The newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express, travelling through the landmark Chenab Bridge, is also being promoted as a game changer. "Kolkata will host the first roadshow promoting Kashmir as a safe destination. We are also regularly updating our social media handles with snippets and current activities in popular destinations in Srinagar, Pahalgam, Jammu, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and other places to encourage tourists from Kolkata," said Manav Soni, TAAI national committee member.
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- India Gazette
TAAI launches
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 10 (ANI): The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has initiated a campaign called 'Rally for Valley' to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir after the terror attack in Pahalgam. The association aims to showcase the region as a safe destination and support the local livelihood dependent on tourism. 'The primary purpose of this campaign is to promote J-K as a safe tourist destination and support local livelihood. Around 75 travel company heads from across India are participating in the campaign,' said Sunil Kumar, the president of The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). 'We are committed to the revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. As the President of TAAI, I recall our successful convention in Srinagar in 2018, attracting 700 agents from across India and transforming the region. Following the recent Pahalgam incident, we couldn't remain silent. We've launched the 'Rally for Valley' campaign to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir again, ' added Sunil Kumar, President of TAAI. The group will visit tourist destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonmarg to gather feedback from local tourism stakeholders. The association will submit reports to the Tourism Minister, and each state member will share insights with their local governments. Sunil Kumar, President of TAAI, emphasised the potential of Kashmir as a tourist destination, stating that the 2018 convention in Srinagar generated significant interest among travel agents and tourists alike. He added, 'We want to tell the world that Jammu and Kashmir are safe places to visit. We believe this is a big opportunity and responsibility for us. People seek holidays to escape stress, routine, and boredom, and TAAI aims to encourage them to choose Kashmir over other destinations, ' said Sunil Kumar. (ANI)
