J&K tourism dept mulls tapping golfing, MICE tourism potential

Buoyed by a healthy increase in tourist footfall this season, the Jammu and Kashmir tourism department is now focusing on projecting the state as a major golf and corporate conference destination in the country.
Jammu and Kashmir, with its infrastructure and natural advantage, can become the best golf and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism hub, State Tourism Secretary Farooq Ahmed Shah said here today.
"We want golfers to come to the Kashmir Valley. It is summer time in the country with mercury touching the 47 degrees mark even in Delhi, whereas it is 22 degrees in Kashmir. Obviously, it is difficult to play golf in such conditions in any part of the country, while Kashmir provides best conditions for the game," he said.

Stressing that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is keen on improving the tourism sector, he said the Jammu and Kashmir government was working to provide support for golf tournaments and corporate conferences in the state.
"Our chief minister, who herself holds the tourism portfolio, wants that the state realize its tourism potential as far as golf and conference tourism are considered. She wants more and more golfers to play in Jammu and Kashmir and more conferences to be organised in the state," Shah said after a meeting here.
The tourism department is also mulling hosting a national- level golf tournament in the state in the memory of former chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, he said.

"Ex-chief minister Mufti sahib had a dream of making Jammu and Kashmir the best tourist destination in the world. He promoted tourism in a big way and consequently, we got a very good response and under the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti, the state looks set to achieve its goal of becoming one of the best tourist destinations in the world," he said.

"We are an affordable destination. As far as the connectivity is concerned, there are 36 daily flights to the state from Delhi, which is something unavailable to any other hill station. Also, there are late flights (in the later part of the day) now and we are working to increase their frequency.

"As far as tourism is concerned, JK is the best in the country, be it golf circuits, adventure tourism or shopping... We are the best in the country," Shah said.
The state is registering an increase in the tourist footfall this season, but the kind of facilities it has for tourists, there is scope for doing better in the sector, he said.
"Be it golfing or conferences, we say there is no need to look outside when they (people) can come to their own Switzerland," Shah said and listed "top-class" conference centres in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and golf courses of international standards in the state.

Asked about the state's recovery from the 2014 floods, he said, "Some parts were affected, but our hill stations were unaffected. Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg...They all remained unaffected in the deluge. There were some (damage) in Srinagar but that were taken care of swiftly, while our high-end properties including golf courses and conference centres were safe."
Asked about the Centre's recent move permitting central government employees to avail leave travel concession while visiting Jammu and Kashmir by private airlines till September, the State Tourism Secretary said, "This is a great step and we are thankful to the Department of Personnel and Training. The step was needed.