Srinagar, Jan 14 (PTI) Tourism is one of the best meansto promote dialogue as it gives ample opportunity to people toknow each other better, Jammu and Kashmir Chief MinisterMehbooba Mufti has said.
"Tourism promotes interactions at people's level, removesmisgivings and creates bonds of amity among various sectionsof society. That is why every tourist visiting the state is astep towards peace," Mehbooba said while interacting with agroup of tourists on the sidelines of a three-day snowfestival at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg last evening.
Mehbooba asked the guests not to get carried away by whatthey see on TV channels, but come to experience the truth ontheir own.
"The impression about the state will improveconsequentially with more and more tourist arrivals as theywill be judging the place for themselves rather than relyingon newsroom discussions of some news channels," she said.
The three-day festival is expected to showcase winterattractions at the famed tourist resort.
During the festival, events such as snow cycling, snowzorbing, snow tubing and ATV race would be held at Gondolabase station.
Minister for Tourism Tassaduq Mufti, Afghan AmbassadorShaida Mohammad Abdali, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant,Additional Solicitor General of India Pinki Anand, well-knowncolumnist and British parliamentarian Meghnad Desai, filmmakerImtiaz Ali, and writer Rakhshanda Jalil were present on theoccasion. PTI SSBSMN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.