TAAK holds 17th AGM at Gulmarg, elects Farooq Kuthoo as president
Gulmarg, Sep 19: The Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) on Thursday elected Farooq Kuthoo as its new President for the 2025–27 term at its 17th Annual General Meeting held at the newly inaugurated Gulmarg Convention Centre.
Habibulah Pandow was re-elected as Vice President, while Sajad Kralyari was chosen as Secretary General. Other office-bearers elected include Ajaz Hussain as Secretary Finance, Nadeem Bukhari as Joint Secretary, Mubarik Sofi as Chief Organiser and Irshad Parray as Publicity Secretary.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was the chief guest at the AGM, with Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Gulmarg Farooq Shah as guests of honour. Tourism stakeholders from across Kashmir, Katra, Kargil, and the Chenab Valley, along with government officials and industry representatives, also attended.
The Chief Minister lauded TAAK’s role in promoting tourism and assured the government’s full support to the sector. Referring to the recent Pahalgam attack, he said the incident had dealt a severe blow to the economy, particularly tourism, and called for joint efforts to restore the Valley’s image. He also noted that the first event at the Gulmarg Convention Centre would be remembered as TAAK’s AGM.
Advisor Wani described TAAK as one of Kashmir’s most prestigious organisations, while MLA Farooq Shah praised its promotional campaigns and strong membership base.
In his welcome address, outgoing President Rauf Tramboo highlighted TAAK’s efforts in advocating the interests of the travel trade and showcasing J&K’s tourism potential through road shows, fairs, and engagement with the Union Tourism Ministry.
President-elect Kuthoo, in his vote of thanks, said the industry was facing difficult times due to the Pahalgam incident and negative media coverage but expressed confidence in the sector’s resilience. He urged the Tourism Department to strengthen promotional campaigns in both offline and online modes.
Kuthoo, who holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Business Administration, brings extensive domestic and international experience in tourism and aviation.
During the AGM, Mushtaq Chaya was conferred with the Manzoor Sidiq Memorial Award 2025 for his contributions to the tourism industry. Senior journalist Yusuf Jameel was also honoured for his role in journalism and promoting tourism.
Secretary General Sajad Kralyari presented the Annual Administration Report, which was appreciated by members. The session was jointly moderated by past Presidents Peerzada Faiyaz and Ashfaq Sidiq Dug.
