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| Autumn Ambassadors put Kashmir in international spotlight | | | Early Times Report
Jammu/Srinagar, Nov 1: When 22 Ambassadors and High Commissioners drawn from the countries like Philippines, Ecuador, Peru and Vietnam today gathered along the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, it was not a diplomatic conclave to discuss the Kashmir issue in international parlance. It was a biggest shot in arm for the state Tourism Department that, at the end of a two-day golf tournament, the diplomats carried home a message of goodwill from Kashmir. Indeed, a massive publicity without any extra cost.
An overwhelmed Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora that it is a message for billions of peoples in 22 countries that Kashmir is a safe destination for tourism and sports. "I have requested the ambassadors to tell their countries' tourism boards that they had been to Kashmir and everything is fine there and to nullify the advisories against visiting Kashmir," said Nawang. The tournament in which several diplomats participated was teed off Saturday at Royal Springs Golf Course.
"From the fact that we are here, we feel that we are safe to come here. We feel that we can play golf, a leisure activity. We feel like even putting on our other hats as tourists, we can enjoy ourselves looking at the magnificent sceneries and the mountains that form the backdrop right now," said Jonahatan Otowana, High Commissioner of Zimbabwe.
"When I came here for the first time, I was the only ambassador in a group of people who came to play golf here. This time we have 19 ambassadors and High Commissioners with their wives and their children and other non-golfers from New Delhi. So, certainly my experience of this beautiful place has been that it is a place to enjoy, a beautiful place and a safe place," said Francis Mouloyta, High Commissioner of South Africa.
Rigzin Jora said that he is delighted that Autumn Ambassadors Golf Tournament provided an opportunity to attract such dignitaries whose presence in the Valley is a message to the world that Kashmir tourism is back on the track and people can visit this place without any inhibition. He said these High Commissioners and Ambassadors can convey their personal feelings to billions of people of their countries about our tourism and hospitality of the people.
The Tourism Minister said that J&K Government is very serious to revive the tourism activities in the state particularly in the Kashmir Valley which was affected during recent past. He said God has bestowed the Valley with extra-ordinary natural beauty and it thrives move when people from all over the world arrive here to appreciate this God’s gift, which has been named as paradise on earth. He said that the tourists from all parts of country are now regularly visiting Valley as tourists but new campaign has been launched to attract tourists from abroad also as they were arriving two decades before.
Today after this successful 2 day visit, they were given affectionate farewell at an impressive function held at Darbar Hall of Grand Palace today. The Tourism Department, Kashmir, Information Department, J&K Scouts Association paid warm farewell to the visiting dignitaries who were representing their countries and who will convey their feelings to the billions of the people about the beauty of Kashmir bestowed by God and will help in attracting millions of tourists to Kashmir.
Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani said that no doubt Ambassadors of 22 countries have visited this Valley who represent their countries “but we are confident that after personally experiencing their stay in the Valley and their experience while playing Ambassadors Golf Tournament, they will become our ambassador when they go back for conveying message to their people that Kashmir tourism is open for all without any problem”. He said these Ambassadors could be able to erase the impressions unfortunately gone world over, about the situation in the Valley which affected flow of tourists to a large extent. He hoped that due to the visit of these dignitaries the dream of revival of old tourism glory will positively become a reality.
The Director Tourism, Mr. Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director Information and PR Khawaja Farooq Ahmad Renzu and Training Commissioner J&K Scouts complimented the High Commissioners/Ambassadors and paid affectionate farewell to them and hoped they will come again and again to the Valley. They also presented bouquets to the visiting dignitaries.
The High Commissioners and Ambassadors include Col. Alex Capina of Philipines, H.E Brian G. Bowler of Malawi, Nguyen Thong Binh of Vietnam, H.E. Jonathan of Zimbabwe, H.E. Marten Kapewasha of Namibia, H.E. Lybounkham of Loab, H.E. Carlos Abad of Ecuador, H.E. Javier Paullinch of Peru, H.E. Francis Moloi of South Africa, H. E. Wenchyiong of Taiwan, H. E. Moukhariq Larbi of Morocco, H. E. Millena Santana of Venezuela, Mr. S.H. Ann of Korea, Mr. Cidton Christians of South Africa, Mr. Seelan Moodley of South Africa, H.E. John Alfrado Pinto of Columbia, H.E. Tarcisius Eri of Papua Guinea, H. E. Frank Den Burg of Dominican Republic and Mr. Maqsood of Bangladesh and others.
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