Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) is going to host “Mega Tourism Promotion Event” from 11-13th April amid a resurgence in COVID19 cases across India.
The decision of holding the event was taken days after Lieutenant Governor J-K Manoj Sinha asked Divisional Commissioners of both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir to enforce night curfew in 8 districts from 10 PM to 6 AM in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in association with the Tourism department o Jammu and Kashmir, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) and the India Golf Tourism Association (IGTA) is organizing the promotion event titled “Tapping the potential of Kashmir: Another day in paradise”
The decision comes as a surprise given the city that is supposed to host the event remains the worst-hit in Jammu and Kashmir and has 1526 active-positive cases, with a total death tally of 474. On 1 March, there were 342 active positive COVID19 cases in Srinagar, which has increased by more than 340 percent to date.
Meanwhile, the administration last week shut all the schools in Jammu and Kashmir for students up to class 9 till 15 April as the Union Territory recorded an upsurge in Covid-19 cases.
In a bid to curtail the spread of Covid-19, several states in India have imposed lockdown. Maharashtra government has announced a “strict lockdown” over the weekends. All beaches, recreational areas like cinemas, theatres, swimming pools and auditoriums have been closed. While as Chhattisgarh’s Raipur has been observing lockdown for 10 days starting 9th of this month.
Similarly, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh announced the enforcement of lockdown, in all urban areas of Madhya Pradesh from 6 pm to 6 am on Monday to check the spread of the Covid-19 infection.
The “Mega Event” in Srinagar is expected to be attended by tour operators from other parts of India and interaction with their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir. “There will be presentations on tourism Potential of Jammu & Kashmir, address by senior government dignitaries including Arvind Singh, Secretary (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary – Tourism, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pertinently, a Golf tournament is also being organized at the picturesque Royal Springs Golf Course, in Srinagar for ‘important invitees’ including Diplomats from Kenya, Vietnam and Georgia and other leading Golfers in the country.
