Kishtwar Development Authority (KDA) today celebrated "World Tourism Day” by hosting an awareness program and plantation drive. Additional District Development Commissioner, Mohammad Hanief Malik was the chief guest.The speakers threw light on various aspects of the World Tourism Day, the theme of this year being Tourism and Rural Development.Besides, they informed the participants about the Tourist Trade Act 1978 and Rules 1979. They elaborated that Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Trade Act envisages the registration of all the establishments connected with tourism activities, viz Hotels, dealers, travel agents, excursion agents, boats, Shikaras and ponywalla etc. It was informed that registration has been made much easier as anyone in the trade can get registration online by just logging in to www.tourism.jk.in and uploading all the documents online.In his address, the chief guest shared his experience about the potential tourist attraction places of the district with the participants. He stated that Kishtwar District has ample scope for the development of Tourism. A plantation drive was also conducted by KDA in collaboration with Forest Division Kishtwar in which Sagar Singh DFO, alongwith staff took part.
Dr. Anil Kumar Block Medical Officer, Dachhan made the participants aware about the COVID-19 Pandemic and the SOPs to be followed by the tourism trade establishments. He explained in detail the procedure and proper way of wearing masks, using sanitizer, hand gloves and hand washing as well as observing social distancing.Advocate Rajesh Sharma highlighted the scope of trekking and mountaineering in district Kishtwar especially Cero mountain Peak and appreciated the role of Chanderbhaga Trekkers Association for their commendable work .Some students of DGC Kishtwar spoke about the scope of job creation and role of tourism in the economy, elaborately.The CEO thanked all the participants and stakeholders who are immensely contributing in the tourist sector. He assured the people of District Kishtwar that KDA will go much ahead in exploring tourism and solicited the cooperation of the public of Kishtwar in this direction. He urged all the stakeholders and business community to get registration of their units/business under Tourist Trade Act 1978 and avail the benefits of relevant government packages and schemes.Earlier, the function began with the welcome address by Accounts Officer KDA, Daleep Rathore, who threw light on the programme and itinerary of the function.