In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Directorate of Tourism Kashmir celebrated World Tourism Day in Srinagar yesterday with a lot of activities marking the occasion. In this connection, a seminar on Green Initiatives in Tourism was organized at Tourist Reception Centre Srinagar in which participant stakeholders threw light on the subject and underscored the need for maintaining the ecology and environment while boosting tourism. The speakers stressed on adopting innovations and methods by which the carbon footprints are reduced and tourists are provided varied experiences through eco-friendly initiatives.

Addressing the seminar, Director Tourism Kashmir, Raja Yaqoob appealed the stakeholders to promote the green initiatives in tourism so that while promoting the sector, the ecology and environment of the place is also maintained and enhanced. Prominent tourism stakeholders were felicitated on the occasion. The Directorate of Tourism also conducted cleanliness drives in Srinagar at Dargah Hazratbal and Shankracharya ji Temple in which besides Director Tourism Kashmir officers, officials and stakeholders participated. Similar cleanliness drives were conducted at Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Yousmarg, Manasbal, Ahrabal, Sonamarg, Achabal, Kokernag, Verinag, Baramulla, Kupwara and other tourist destinations across the Kashmir Valley.

At famous ski resort tourist destination in Gulmarg, the Director Tourism Kashmir led the sanitation drive in which officials and stakeholders participated. Speaking on the occasion, the Director Tourism appealed for making Gulmarg clean and green so that tourists coming to the place get the desired experiences. A similar cleanliness drive was conducted at Kongdoori by the J&K Cable Car Corporation. Similar cleanliness drives were conducted by the Department at all these destinations in which the Resort Officers and stakeholders took pledge to keep the destination clean and green.