Tag Archives: Srinagar

Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, says, “IATO members, after visiting Kashmir, as part of ‘Rubaroo with J&K’, will be better equipped to apprise their clients about the on-ground situation in the valley and how safe it is.” The association’s 22-member delegation is visiting Pahalgam and Srinagar to promote the destination after the unfortunate terror attack.

To expand its outreach in northern India and revive tourism, Sanjeev Mehra, President, Skål International India, said that they will open a new club in Srinagar named Skål International Jammu & Kashmir on 31 May.

“The Indian Tourist Transporters Association is planning a get-together in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar, where over 100 participants from Delhi are expected to attend,” shared Bobby KS Sawhney, Hony. Secretary, ITTA. The idea is to rebuild confidence in the region and contribute to reviving tourism in the Valley, he added.

Posting a latest update on X, Air India Express said that due to notification from the airport authorities, flights to and from Amritsar, Gwalior, Jammu, Srinagar and Hindon are cancelled till 05:30 hrs on 10 May. Thus, the airline is offering a full refund or free rescheduling for its customers of these flights.

“Kashmir region has experienced a surge in tourism, with footfall increasing by over 15% since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic”, said, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, Govt of India, at the 25th Annual National Convention of the Tourist Guides Federation of India, held at the SKICC in Srinagar while emphasising the robust growth in domestic tourism across India.

The report titled ‘India’s Treasure Trove of Cultural Travel 2022’ by OYO said with over 3.5 times growth over the past year, Srinagar clocked the highest growth in bookings among cultural destinations in 2022. Besides Srinagar, Pahalgam and Jammu in J&K also ranked among the top cultural destinations in India 

Amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Air Canada temporarily suspended its flight services to India, following a decision by the Pakistan government to close its airspace. Air Canada cancelled one flight to Delhi from Vancouver, while another flight en-route to India returned to Toronto. Qatar Airways issued a statement asserting that due to the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan, its flight over the airspace of these two countries may experience delays due to rerouting. While Vistara issued a statement about the cancellations of flights on Amritsar, Srinagar, Chandigarh and Jammu; Singapore Airlines also released a statement about its flight delays. A Dubai-bound Jet Airways was asked by Pakistan ATC to return to Delhi. Flight operations across eight airports in Amritsar, Pathankot, Srinagar, Jammu, Shimla, Dharamshala, Kullu and Leh were shut briefly. However, the airports got operational after a few hours. As many as 47 flights were cancelled from Delhi airport, 25 were departures and 22 arrivals. Also, eight arrivals and eight departure flights were cancelled from the Mumbai Airport. Source: ANI  

Skål International India has opened its 12th club under the name Skål International Srinagar that will comprise 21 members from Srinagar as well as Ladakh. Ibrahim Siah is the Founder President of the club, while Nasir Shah is its Secretary. The chief guest for the Chapter night was Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, District Development Commissioner, along with other eminent dignitaries. Hosted by Fortune Resort Heevan, the event was well-attended by the Skål India National Board and All India Club Presidents/Representatives. Ranjini Nambiar, President, Skål International India, informed, “Club members consist of hoteliers, travel agents, tour operators and adventure specialists. The state boasts of great ski slopes, apple orchards, houseboats on the 24 sqkm famous Dal lake and is an absolute safe place to be. All members worldwide are welcome to interact with the Skålleagues of Srinagar.”

Cox & Kings announced the ‘Free Fly to Kashmir’ packages in its bid to promote Kashmir Tourism under its domestic brand ‘Bharat Deko’. The initiative offers free airfare ex New Delhi, thus making the package attractive. ‘Glorious Kashmir’ and ‘Kashmir Delight’ are the two packages announced for travellers. The special packages were formally launched by Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director Tourism, Kashmir along with Yusuf Poonawala, Senior Vice President, Cox & Kings at the Nigeen Club, Srinagar. The packages that span for a week have been specially crafted to offer a holistic Kashmir experience with price starting from only Rs 22,099. The Free Fly tours will allow the tourists to explore Kashmir’s nature, local culture and history. Sonamarg, Thajwas Glacier, Pahalgam, Awantisvamin and Betaab Valley are a few of the many sites that have been included in the tour. Poonawala said,”Kashmir is on the priority list of travellers. This offer will further boost tourist influx into Kashmir.” Bharat Deko has also created theme-based videos besides other marketing materials to promote the snow-state of India. The package offer is valid for travel period January 1 to June 30, 2018.

AirAsia’s first flight to Srinagar was received with great enthusiasm at Srinagar Airport by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, flanked by state’s Secretary of Tourism and Floriculture Farooq A Shah, Director Tourism Kashmir Mehmood A Shah, and the top management of Air Asia India operations. The tourism secretary termed it one of the big leaps in connecting Kashmir through this affordable budgeted international airline and hoped that this will increase seat capacity as well as the flying options to for the potential visitors to the valley and should result in the reduced airfare. He further added that Tourism Department is aggressively promoting Jammu Kashmir and doing everything possible to make it a round the year destination.