Ganderbal: Lieutenant Governor’s advisor Baseer Ahmed Khan Thursday said that increased footfall of tourists prompted the administration to open Sonmarg tourist destination in February this year instead of April.
Khan today presided over the maiden one-day Sonamarg Winter festival that witnessed the participation of hundreds of locals and tourists in various colourful activities and cultural programs.
The event also witnessed various colourful cultural items presented by the renowned artist of the valley and scintillating performances by famous singers, who enthralled the audiences with various traditional folk and cultural shows.
The One-day Sonamarg winter festival was organised by the district administration Ganderbal in collaboration with Directorate of Tourism Kashmir, Sonamarg Development Authority, Hoteliers Association Somamarg, NIEL and NHIDCL.
Advisor Khan, while speaking on the occasion, complimented all stake holders for making it possible to open Sonamarg destination in the month of February which usually opens in the month of April.
“With the increasing Tourist footfall in the valley, decision was taken to reopen Sonamarg so that it become meaningful winter destination and provide tourists other winter destination which as beautiful as Gulmarg and Pehalgam,” Advisor Khan said. He said that primary focus will beon pilgrim tourism, besides other activities including skiing, snow sledge, snow biking, etc at Sonmarg and other tourist destinations of the Valley.
While highlighting the various initiatives taken for the promotion of the tourism sector in J&K, he said on the backdrop of the directions passed by the Lt Governor, a series of meetings have been convened to ensure that tourism related activities are conducted to promote local tourism adding that LG is very particular in exploring other tourist destinations in whole JK to make it tourist hub.
Earlier, the Advisor also inspected the stalls displaying traditional art, craft, ethnic cuisine, street food, etc which had been set up at by various departments including Animal Husbandry, Khadi village and Industries, Tourism, Handicrafts, Forest, Fisheries, Horticulture, Floriculture and other Private Entrepreneurs to showcase their unique products.
