Kashmir ready for winter tourism: Dr Darakhshan Andrabi

Srinagar, Nov 02: Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi today visited famous tourist destination Sonmarg and participated in the Special Tourism Conclave held here by Trade & Hoteliers Association for assessment of the promotion, arrangements and preparation for the upcoming Winter Season Tourism here.

Welcoming at Sonmarg, the president of the Association Furqan Ahmad said that the tourism industry suffered a lot due to the Pahalgam terror attack and now we are working hard to ensure a successful winter tourist season. He said the association has high hopes from Dr Andrabi whose positive impact has worked wonders during the past many years.

Waqf Chairperson held a detailed interaction with the traders and hoteliers to know about the difficulties and issues related to the tourism development & restoration along with the preparedness initiatives taken here.

She addressed the gathering and assured her support to the tourism sector for promotion and special efforts for making the upcoming winter season a successful one here and elsewhere in whole of Jammu & Kashmir. "After Pahalgam terror attack, the tourism industry suffered a setback and whole of J&K had to pay a huge price for the misadventure of terrorists and their separatist supported from across the border. But under the Prime Minister's strong command, the security forces gave a befitting reply to the terrorists and their sponsors and again the LG administration ensured through the valiant police forces that peaceful environment is restored and terror supported are hammered. This re-established the peace in J&K", said Dr Darakhshan.

She said that Kashmir was ready now for winter tourism and Sonamarg, the winter wonderland is enthusiastically welcoming tourists into a safe and serene environment here during the winter months. "I will put in my all energies and influences to stand with the people associated with the tourism industry to make winter tourism season a success. We all need to work unitedly for restoration of the tourism inflow into Jammu & Kashmir again", said Andrabi.