Covid vaccination will save, revive tourism in Kashmir

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<strong>Vaccination campaigns are being organised at major tourist places in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that those associated with the tourism sector are safe and protected and can carry out tourism activities in a safe environment once the Covid situation improves.</strong></p>
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Awareness programmes, like the one organised by the Kashmir Tourism Department at the Nigeen lake in Srinagar on Monday, saw an encouraging participation from hoteliers, tour operators, shikarawallas, houseboat owners and their staff. </p>
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Similar campaigns are being organised in other major tourist destinations to ensure 100 percent vaccination of the people associated with the tourism industry.</p>
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"The government is committed to ensure 100 percent vaccination of tourism stakeholders and for that he urged them to cooperate and come forward for vaccination so that they are protected from deadly Covid-19," said GN Itoo, Director Tourism Kashmir.</p>
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Itoo said that the role of vaccination is important for the tourism sector to bounce back and the intending tourists need to be given confidence that the stakeholders and service providers are fully vaccinated.</p>
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"Vaccines will save tourism. The intending tourists will have the confidence of visiting the Valley once we achieve 100 percent vaccination," he said.</p>
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Expressing satisfaction over the decline in the positivity rates in the Valley, Itoo said the government is taking all precaution to ensure safety of the stakeholders through vaccination and testing programmes. He said in the coming days the Department is planning to host a capacity building workshop for the members of tourist trade to familiarize them about doing business in the post Covid scenario.</p>
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Earlier, the Director Tourism toured the interiors of the Nigeen Lake and appreciated the role of the local stakeholders in keeping the lake clean. He said it is the duty of the people to preserve the lake and supplement the works for administration in their efforts to conserve the water bodies.</p>
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Chairman, Nigeen Tour Trade Association, Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo, Deputy Director Tourism (Registration), Ahsanul Haq Chishti and other officers and officials of the Tourism Department were also present on the occasion.</p>
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Heads of the various travel, hotel and houseboat owners’ associations who participated in the event appreciated the efforts of the tourism department in organising vigorous vaccination programmes. They also conveyed their support to the department in making the programme a success and also following Covid appropriate behaviour.</p>