KARGIL: Successive governments in the state have neglected mountainous Kargil district and left it out of the tourist circuit despite its rich tourism potential.
At a meeting here today stake holders, including tour and travel operators and hoteliers placed their demands before the visiting tourism department officials.
The meeting was held at Conference Hall TFC Kargil.
During the meeting they suggested that Kargil be declared a tourist destination like Leh as the district remains virgin for tourists and researchers as well as adventure lovers. They particularly laid emphasis on promoting Kargil-Zanskar bely=t for international tourists as the area was a trekkers paradise.
Director Tourism Kashmir Mehmood Shah was present at the meeting.
Ashraf Ali of Hotel Green Land suggested to explore the possibilities of promoting Border Tourism in Kargil on the pattern of Suchegarh in Jammu and Wagha in Punjab and for this the ideal place is Hunderman which is just 7 km away from Kargil town and promoting Destinations like Goma Kargil, Choskore, Batambis etc.
Mohammad Ali a travel agent pointed out at the step motherly treatment with Kargil by the of J&K Tourism Department as it has failed to add any special package for Kargil and the district has no presence on the departments official website.
Another Travel Agent Muzzamil Munshi suggested to make a separate Website for Tourism Department Kargil so that Travelers can easily find information related to Kargil.
Nasir Mushi of Hotel Highland discussed issues related to incentives to hotel owners as well as need of amendment in the process of getting these incentives which were not revised since a long time. He also requested for due share for Kargil in this years PMs Special Package for Promotion of Tourism in J&K.
Tashi Lonpo of Pyupa Guest House Garkone urged upon need to promote tourism in Aryan belt of Kargil and the problem they face while getting tourists from Leh which is not allowed by Army check post situated at Garkone.
Gulzar Munshi of Munshi Aziz Bhat Mausum discussed on regularizing the issue of Kargil Festival with an appropriate calendar as well as revision of travel maps as well as steps to protect the various rock carvings still present in Kargil.
During the meeting retired Assistant Director Tourism and Sarpanch Pashkum, Mohammad Hussain urged upon the Director to look into the matter of misinformation spread by some Travel Agents of Leh which poses a serious threat to the development of tourism in Kargil.
Later while interacting with the media Shah said that this was the dream of the late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to develop Kargil as a tourism destination particularly in the field of adventure tourism.
Referring to the present apricot blossom in Kargil he said that this season can be sold as a new tourist attraction.
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