Jammu, April 20
–Minister for Tourism, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control attended the inauguration of 14th Annual South Asian Travel& Tourism Exhibition (SATTE) here today. The three-day exhibition, which was inaugurated by Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Ambika Soni, has drawn delegates from 34 countries including Egypt, UAE, Japan Mexico, Malaysia, China and Germany.
Among the dignitaries who attended the inaugural function included Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports and Development of North Eastern Region, Mr.Mani Shankar Aiyar,visiting Tourism and Culture Minister of Pakistan, Begum Nilofar Bakhtiar, Minister for Tourism, Haryana, Ms. Kiran Choudhry, CMD, Kingfisher Airlines, Dr. Vijay Mallaya, Chief coordinator, SATTE, Mr. Navin Beary and President Hotel Association of India and Park Group of Hotels, Ms. Priya Paul.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Minister had a series of meetings with tour and travel operators from Dubai, Malaysia and several South East Asian countries who showed keen interest in the tourism sector of the state. Mr. Mir also spoke to Dr. Mallaya and impressed upon him to increase the frequency of flights from and to Jammu and Kashmir in view of the increased tourist inflow to which Dr. Malliya agreed.
Meanwhile, the stall put up by J&K Government’s Tourism Department attracted several dignitaries including Union Minister of Tourism and Culture who was so fascinated by traditional welcome of ‘rouf’ that she choose to join the chorus for a while. Visiting Tourism and Culture Minister of Pakistan, Begum Nilofar Bakhtiar and CMD, Kingfisher Airlines Dr.Vijay Mallaya also visited the stall and took interest in several facets of the state.
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