Gulmarg, Sep 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed strong displeasure with tourism stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir, accusing them of failing to back his government’s promotional initiatives and remaining silent amid political criticism.
Speaking at a closed-door meeting with travel agents after inaugurating the new state-of-the-art Gulmarg Convention Centre, Abdullah said stakeholders did not defend him when the opposition attacked his tourism policies. The convention centre is expected to boost tourism, promote MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) activities and generate opportunities for youth and local businesses.
Abdullah, who also holds the tourism portfolio, cited initiatives like a cycling festival in Pahalgam to promote the sector but said he lacked industry support during scrutiny. He recalled special promotional efforts undertaken after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
The CM also announced that lease agreements of hotels across Jammu, Katra, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Srinagar and Gulmarg would soon be scrutinised. Expressing dismay over “selective leakage” of government orders, he questioned why stakeholders remained silent when he was wrongly targeted over a Paris visit, which was in fact attended by officials and travel associations.
Abdullah stressed that J&K’s economy relies heavily on tourism and urged both public and private stakeholders to work together to restore the sector’s vibrancy.
