Excelsior Correspondent
KOCHI (KERALA), Jan 19: Managing Director J&K Tourism Development Corporation Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary today inaugurated India International Travel Mart (IITM) being held at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium Kochi here.
The aim behind participation in the mart is to showcase the diversified products of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh so that people of Kochi know that Jammu & Kashmir has right infrastructure in place to cater the products like leisure, adventure, pilgrimage, border, golf & MICE Tourism among others.
A delegation of officers from Patnitop Development Authority, Jammu Golf Course, Directorates of Tourism Jammu/ Kashmir, J&K Tourism Development Corporation & representatives of travel trade industry are participating in the mart to promote different destinations of the State.
Large number of visitors and guests who visited J&K Pavilion have shown keen interest and enquired about the most sought off destinations known for leisure, pilgrimage, adventure and border tourism like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Yousmarg, Patnitop, Sanasar, Mansar, Bhaderwah, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji Katra & Ladakh.
The J&K delegation also highlighted the lesser known and upcoming destinations like Verinag, Aharbal, Mantalai, Rajouri, Surinsar, Suchetgarh, Shahdra Sharief Shrine, Peer ki Gali, Kargil and about upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
During the day short documentaries on tourism products were shown to the guests/visitors. Brochures, flyers, JKTDC Calendars & other publicity material highlighting the different destinations of the State were also distributed among the guests. J&K Tourism Development Corporation announced special packages and discount for the tourists visiting State during the Mart.
Later, Dr Shahid Iqbal along with Regional Director India Tourism Govind Boyan and other dignitaries visited the different stalls and interacted with exhibiters and appealed to all stakeholders to promote J&K as round the year destination keeping in view the rich cultural diversity which three regions of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh provide and also persuaded them to include Convention Center of Pahalgam, Srinagar Jammu and Patnitop in their itineraries and packages for the upcoming tourist season.