ETW STAFF – New Delhi
As a major initiative to promote tourism in Kashmir Valley, the union tourism minister, K Chiranjeevi, recently announced that ‘Kashmir Festival 2013’ will be held for a fortnight from May 13 to 29, 2013 at different places in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The minister said his ministry is providing financial support for this. The festival will be held in Sringar, Pahalgam, Yousmarg, Manasbal, Doodhpathri, Gulmarg, Lolab Valley and Sonmarg and will include activities such as shikara races, cycle races, canoeing, river rafting, para gliding, painting, swimming competition, horse races, etc. The festival will also showcase the culture of Jammu & Kashmir through performances by the cultural troupes of the state.
For successful organisation of the festival, MoT is also coordinating with other ministries including ministry of home affairs, ministry of civil aviation for outlining the concessional fares/tour package, ministry of culture for organising cultural events through different cultural troupes and ministry of youth affairs and sports for undertaking sports activities such as boat race and other adventure sports like paragliding, horse race, etc.
Local service providers such as hoteliers, guest house owners including house boats of Kashmir Division have already offered discount of 20 per cent -30 per cent as a special case for the tour packages/ tourists during the forthcoming tourist season.
