Excelsior Correspondent
AMRITSAR, Mar 7: Continuing with its drive to give a fillip to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, Directorate of Tourism Jammu, J&K UT in association with Jammu Association of Tour Operators (JATO), organized a road show to promote tourism spots of the Union Territory.
Earlier in the day, a press conference was held, which was addressed by Deepika Sharma (Executive Director Mubarak Mandi Heritage Jammu), Raman Suri (general secretary, Tourism Federation Jammu), Bilal Ahmad Mir (Assistant Director, Directorate of Tourism Kashmir), Amrik Singh, president, Jammu Association of Tour Operators (JATO), B B Kotwal (president Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh Tourism Stakeholders Association) and Ajay Gupta (president, Association of Religious Tour Operators Katra).
Presenting welcome address, Kiran Wattal (president, Shri Amarnath Yatra Welfare Society) briefed about the historical connection between Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. Deepika Sharma said that the Jammu Tourist circuit has a huge potential for pilgrimage, leisure and adventure tourism. She said that J&K is a rich centre of heritage and home to shrines of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Shri Amarnath, Shahdara Sharief, Shankaracharya Temple, Kheer Bhawani, Hazratbal, Mansar Lake and Dal Lake among others.
Ashwani Gupta, Ex-Chairman Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Punjab Chapter, said that a farm tour to J&K should be organized by J&K Tourism Department for all the stakeholders from Punjab so that they can collect intensive knowledge about J&K’s tourism.
Keynote speaker Rajesh Gupta (Chairman Board of Trustees, Tourism Federation Jammu) spoke about the untold and rare legends from Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dwapar Yuga concerning various historical places of J&K. He also highlighted the potential of tourism in J&K and invited the people of Punjab to come and enjoy the beauty of J&K.
An excellent presentation was given by B B Kotwal and Amrik Singh, highlighting the excellent rail, road and air connectivity of Jammu and showcasing Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan, Shri Raghunath Temple, Maa Bawe Wali, Shri Amarnath Shrine, Shankaracharya Temple, Patnitop, Sanasar, Basohli, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch. Main highlight of the presentation was the circuit of Bhaderwah including picturesque Jai Valley, serene Padri meadows, Gur-Danda, Kailash-Kund Lake, Gatha Lake Park, Trout Fish farm and apple orchards.
K L Malhotra (Forest Conservation Specialist, Department of Tourism Punjab), in his address, said that he would also talk to the Tourism Department of Punjab regarding building a coordination and collaboration between Punjab and J&K’s tourism industry in order to boost the sector.
Raman Suri enthralled the audience with his self-written poetry about Jammu and Kashmir’s heritage, religious, leisure, adventure and border tourism in a very impressive manner.
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