Seminar organised on eve of Tourism day 2020

On the eve of the World Tourism Day, a seminar was organized by the J&K Tourism Department in collaboration with the Patnitop Development Authority(PDA) and Patnitop Hotels Association(PHA) and attended by Manager, J&K Tourism Development Corporation(JKTDC), CB Koul and all the concerned stakeholders here today.

On the occasion, the chief guest Executive Engineer, PDA, KK Gupta, and Assistant Director, Tourism, National Highway, Dr. Umesh Shaan enlightened the stakeholders about the importance and history of World Tourism Day besides the Tourist Trade Act and the Registration Act of hotels and the offense of touting.

Lamenting that the universally prevalent Covid-19 has adversely affected all the stakeholders of the tourism business especially the hoteliers, Dr. Shaan warned them that any violation of these laws is a serious offense and will be enforced strictly henceforth.

He also thanked the PHA members for supporting the administration during the lockdown and exhorted them to strictly follow the Covid-19 SOPs while entertaining guests in their hotels.

A Community Health Worker, Shilpa Rajput educated the members about Dos and Don’ts for preventing Covid-19 spread.

During the interaction session, the hoteliers also highlighted their grievances or difficulties and the suggestions for the improvement of tourism in the area only to be assured by Dr,Shaan of his early action and redressal on them.

On the occasion, all the members downloaded ‘Dekho Apna Desh Pledge’ from the pledge.mygov.in on their cellphones and took the pledge to “witness India’s amazing diversity of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat by visiting at least 15 tourist places (around)of Incredible India by 2022 and inspire others to do so.”

At last two Taxi Shikara, walas were given away the registration certificates and some prominent local hoteliers, Tour & Travel Agents, media person, and other stakeholders were felicitated with Appreciation Certificates.

Keeping in view the prevailing pandemic all the members maintained social distance and wore masks.