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| CM invites golfers across world to play in Kashmir | | ‘We offer better facilities at cheaper price’, Azad | | Early Times Reporter
Srinagar |Sep 9- Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has underlined the need to mobilise golfers across the world to come and play the game in Kashmir, saying nowhere in the world was such a beautiful golfing facility as Royal Springs Golf Course laid out in the midst of a capital city.
The Chief Minister was addressing the prize distribution function after the conclusion of PHD Chamber - J&K Government Golf Tournament-2007 at Royal Springs Golf Course here today. The tournament was jointly organised by PHD Chamber and J&K Tourism Department.
The Chief Minister said the infrastructure available in Kashmir for golfing was underutilised. He said although the facilities were of international standard and cheaper than anywhere in the world, it was strange that the high spending golfers and other tourists preferred Europe and Far East over Kashmir. He sought cooperation of PHD Chamber in bringing about change in this trend asking them to persuade golfers of the country as other high spending tourists to make Kashmir as their No. 1 destination. He said that most of the golfers of the country perhaps did not know that Srinagar was just 50 minute flight from the Union capital where they could find one of the best golf courses of the world flanked by mountain and a magnificent lake. He said the Valley’s connectivity had improved a great deal and as of today 12 flights operated daily between Srinagar and Delhi and Mumbai. He said by April next the international airport at Srinagar would be also operational, thus, improving the scenario further. He said golfers and holiday makers could then easily fly in from different parts of the world.
The Chief Minister said that the potential of the State for accommodating tourists was far higher than the actual arrivals. He sought to change this situation and said that since Kashmir offered more enchanting and adventurous setting than the most sought after places in Europe, the spending tourists from different parts of the country should come here instead of going abroad for holidaying. He said their visit to this place would be far more satisfying and rewarding and at the same time on a cheaper price. He said Indian tourist outflow to other
countries was double than foreign tourist arrivals in the country. He said the myth that Germans were high spending tourists no more held good and actually it was the foreign bound Indian tourist who was spending more when holidaying.
The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the PHD Chamber in organising the Golf Tournament here and said it would provide opportunity for them to mix sports with business. He asked the 70 golfer business persons who participated in the tournament to spread the message about how rewarding and safe it was to visit Kashmir when they return to their places. He told each one of them to bring at least 100 golfers from within and outside the country along with them next year and make the tournament an annual feature here.
Later, the Chief Minister gave away prizes to winners in different categories of the tournament. The Overall Grass Trophy winner was Shabir Ahmad. The overall winner for Men’s Division was I. S. Mehta while the Ladies Division winner was Sita Nanda. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Anil Goswami won a return air ticket and two days’ stay at Kathmandu.
Earlier, President, PHD Chamber, Sanjay Bhatia said that the objective of organising the tournament here was to send the message of peace and promote tourism and industry in Jammu & Kashmir. He said the Valley had tremendous potential for development of tourism - convention, adventure and sports-, hydro power, handicrafts and horticulture which if harnessed fully would boost economy and generate employment. He said Kashmir could become an important sports and convention hub. He said the participating members of the PHD Chamber had a series of useful meetings with representatives of local business and industry and government officers on tapping the local potential. He said a conference on horticulture was scheduled for tomorrow. He assured the Chief Minister that PHD Chamber would be an active partner in the development of the State.
Director, Golf Tournament, PHD Chamber, Satish Girotra, responding to the Chief Minister’s suggestion, announced that the Chamber would hold golf tournament at Royal Springs Golf Course every year.
Chairman, J&K Committee, PHD Chamber, Ram Sahai also spoke on the occasion.
Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah and a large number of golf lovers were present on the occasion.
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