Plan to make tourism year-round reality: Nasir Aslam

Srinagar, Jun 30: Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani on Tuesday announced that the Jammu and Kashmir government will craft a holistic roadmap in tandem with all stakeholders to ensure the sector thrives round the calendar—a move aimed at bolstering the Union Territory’s economy, which remains heavily dependent on the annual pilgrim and leisure rush.
Addressing the annual general meeting of the Tourism Advisory Steering Committee (TASC) here, Wani, credited the outgoing team for successfully reviving the season through aggressive promotional drives across multiple locations. “They did a great job. They went to many places to promote tourism. As a result, we saw the season coming back to our country,” he said.
The National Conference senior leader said that the administration is no longer satisfied with the peak-off-season binary. “Our tourism has a very widespread economy. We want tourism to be a year-round phenomenon, not just during peak season and off-season. We will sit with them and discuss how to attract tourists every month,” he stated, adding that stakeholders are free to put forth their suggestions without any preconceived notions from the government’s side.
Speaking on the Amarnath Yatra preparations, the Advisor stressed that the hospitality of Kashmiris remains unwavering and central to the annual pilgrimage’s smooth conduct. “We have always welcomed tourists, even on bad days. You should remember that the local population plays an important role. We are known for hospitality, and we will fulfill our hospitality,” he said.
Commenting on the recent spate of Parliamentary delegations visiting the Valley, Nasir Sogami termed it a confidence-building measure for the rest of the country. “Parliamentary committees go to different states. Jammu and Kashmir also came. Jammu and Kashmir is their priority. They did their meetings here; they did their reviews. When high-profile guests come here, we should not have any obstacle. This gives confidence to the rest of the country,” he said.
The CM’s Advisor also urged journalists to balance criticism with positive messaging on developmental strides. “It is not necessary to send negative messages. This creates an atmosphere of distrust. You can criticise us—we have no problem with that—but you should send good messages to people. Tourism is flourishing, business is improving, and new developments are happening. MLAs are working in every constituency. If you send good messages, people will understand and there will be trust in the system,” he said. (KNS)