Srinagar: Kashmir Inc. is eager to meet the delegates to aggressively promote Kashmir in an effort to boost trade, commerce, and tourism. The G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting is slated to take place in Srinagar from May 24 to 26, 2023, while India is the G20 presidency.
As per reports, there has been a rise in youth confidence that international visitors will soon begin visiting Kashmir in significant numbers. The mainstay of Jammu and Kashmir's economy, tourism, absorbs unskilled workers into the unorganised sector, fueling educational unemployment.
In the Baramulla area of north Kashmir, Kirmani Aafaq, a recent graduate from Government Degree College, expressed his optimism that the summit will provide the tourism industry a much-needed boost and allow youth to make a living.
"Young people without jobs in Jammu and Kashmir are hoping that the nations will lift their travel warnings prohibiting their citizens from visiting Kashmir. Since we already know that dignitaries from 20 different nations will attend this summit in Srinagar to address tourism, unemployment, and socioeconomic development in various regions, we may expect a significant increase in the number of international visitors to the valley as a result of this event. Unemployed kids will undoubtedly find more employment after a significant increase in foot traffic.
"Kashmir is heaven on earth, but terrorism has turned it into hell on earth during the past year. After years of neglect, the Indian government has now quickened the pace of development in Jammu and Kashmir. After the G20 conference, tourism will see an even greater boom, which will be very important for J-K because it will help to significantly reduce the threat of terrorism there, said Kirmani.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today, one of our top concerns is the development of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Our government is making decisions for the improvement of Jammu and Kashmir, whether it be for women's empowerment, young employment prospects, or the welfare of the oppressed or underprivileged.
"Here in Jammu and Kashmir, tourism is one of the most significant economic sectors. Many individuals in UT are employed as a result of tourism. This industry has a high potential for job creation and needs less investment than other economic sectors because of how labor-intensive it is, according to Hanan Qadir, a business student from the Kulgam region of south Kashmir.
"Tourism offers a variety of jobs, including those for hotel managers, tour guides, chefs, etc., which further boosts the UT's economy by raising residents' incomes and living standards," the official said.
Jammu and Kashmir's tourism industry is being promoted in line with sustainable development objectives. In addition, a strong emphasis is placed on developing a reliable tourism infrastructure system and the hotel sector.
"Tourism supports millions and billions of locals through jobs and commerce. Now that there is calm and quiet, this business may prosper. Another young person, Zaid Ali, who is from Tangmarg in north Kashmir, stated that the LG Manoj Sinha-led administration "always believed that peace can be made by sincerely addressing grievances." Indicating that it is now everyone's duty in Kashmir to assist the administration in populating Jammu and Kashmir. In terms of tourism, Kashmir has had a record-breaking year. A record 1.88 crore tourists visited UT in 2022 to take in the beauty of many well-known tourist destinations, which was the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per reports, Jammu and Kashmir has been the preferred shooting location for the film industry since the new J-K Film Policy was introduced in 2021, and permission has been granted for the filming of more than 150 films and web series in less than two years.
Tourism department representatives claimed that Jammu and Kashmir is currently being pushed on all relevant international venues, which is the reason the UT has recently had the highest-ever tourist foot traffic.
"There has been a good increase in travellers since last year, and we are hopeful that this trend will continue in the future. To entice tourists, we have organised a number of events. Additionally, we are making every effort to advocate for Jammu and Kashmir in international venues, the official said.
Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta said on May 17 that the next working group meeting of tourism delegates from G20 countries will assist enhance the tourist industry in Jammu and Kashmir. He urged people to make the gathering a huge success. Chief Secretary said, J-K saw a significant increase in domestic and international tourists last year, and if everyone works with the government to make the upcoming G20 event effective, the number of visitors might increase by a factor of four.
The G20 summit in Srinagar is a "big opportunity" for Jammu and Kashmir to demonstrate its full potential. "We are making progress towards our shared objective of peace, development, and prosperity. Delegates in attendance at the G20 meeting here in the coming days will serve as worldwide marketing ambassadors for Jammu and Kashmir and its tourism, supporting regional companies. The time is right for Jammu and Kashmir to promote its tourism potential and cultural diversity on a global scale. The G20 will improve the tourism and hospitality industry's boundless potential and increase economic prosperity for all facets of society, Raina said
"The times have changed, and for the better. A simple citizen in J-K has breathed a sigh of relief because his life has not been disrupted. As their entire ecosystem has been destroyed, the factors that are hostile to peace have been taken care of. It's an honour for J&K that our country will host such a significant international gathering that will be attended by representatives of the world's most powerful nations, Raina added.
The Government of India supports numerous projects involving significant investment and public spending on schemes for job creation in addition to tourism. In addition, a number of the government's signature initiatives, including Make in India, Start-up India, Stand-up India, Digital India, Housing for All, etc., are focused on creating job possibilities.
The landmark G-20 Summit is taking place in three days, and on top of that, the third record-breaking tourist season has the potential to significantly improve the social conditions of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This year, the advances made over the previous three years are anticipated to reach unprecedented heights.
Vijay Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Kashmir Zone said that all security preparations have been undertaken for the next G20 conference in Union Territory.
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