Dir Tourism visits Gulmarg, reviews status of departmental assets, facilities

GULMARG: Director Tourism Kashmir Dr. GN Itoo Tuesday visited Gulmarg and convened a meeting of concerned agencies to review the status of departmental and other assets at the world famous tourist resort.

Laying focus on strengthening of assets at the resort, Director Tourism emphasised upon executing agencies to ensure that all the pending tourism projects are completed at the earliest so that these are ready once the tourism picks ups again as the COVID situation improves.

He also sought immediate repair works and restoration of the tourists infrastructure so that before tourism bounces back proper facilities are in place for the travellers.

Dr Itoo also informed the meeting that the department is celebrating World Environment Day across Kashmir during which awareness on protection of the fragile environment will be carried out. He directed the officers to involve the local population and stakeholders in the awareness campaigns and also conduct cleanliness drives at the resort.

The Director Tourism also reviewed the pace of vaccination among tourism stakeholders and he was informed that around 90 percent of the hotel staff, tourist guides,  poywallas, and other service providers at the resort have been covered under the special vaccination programme.

While expressing satisfaction at the pace of the vaccination of people associated with the travel and hospitality sector, Director Tourism Kashmir urged the officers and other staff to encourage the people to come forward for vaccination so that 100 percent target is achieved.

Dr GN Itoo said hotel staff and travel guides are the frontline workers in the tourism sector who need to be immunised and protected by vaccination and 100 percent vaccination was also important for the revival of the tourism sector.

The meeting was attended by MD J&K Cable Car Corporation, Majid Khalil Drabu, CEO GDA, Inam ul Haq Siddiqui, AD Gulmarg besides other officers and staff members.

In a separate meeting with stakeholders, the Director Tourism impressed upon them to take the opportunity of present times and further improve upon the services quality of the service providers so that tourists leave back with sweet memories.