Service to tourists should match natural beauty of J&K: Omar

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday advocated for tailoring of schemes to provide short term trainings to the people in tourism and hotel management sector with no age limit.

Addressing at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) here this evening, the Chief Minister said that this kind of programme would give new dimension to the promotion of tourism as per the modern trends and requirements.
“Present day tourist is hyper sensitive to the service and the products he receives in hotels, houseboats and other places he visits during his travel. We have to recognize this aspect and match the demands of customer by providing qualitative services and products”, he said and asked all the stakeholders in tourism industry to join hands in developing Jammu and Kashmir as one of the best quality service providing States in the tourism sector.
Omar Abdullah said that the natural beauty and charming tourist destinations of the State will only imprint the lasting impression in the hearts and minds of tourists when the service given to them is as beautiful as our land is.
The Chief Minister appreciated the functioning of IHM even in challenging circumstances during the last twenty five years adding that the institute has been able to produce degree and diploma holders of par excellence who got jobs globally and exhibited their calibre and capacity. He also praised the scheme ‘Hunar Sey Rozgar’ being carried forward by the IHM to impart short trainings to the youth for getting employment in various concerns relating to the hotel management and tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah underlined the need for giving trainings in hotel management and services to the staff placed in government guest houses and circuit houses. He also praised the IHM and its faculty for producing brilliant graduates and diploma holders who have made their mark at National and International level. He announced Rs. one crore from MPs Constituency Development Fund for the IHM.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah also highlighted the importance of quality service by the hoteliers, houseboat owners and others associated with tourist trade and said that ‘service with smile’ does wonders and motivate tourists to visit again and again.
Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Union Tourism Secretary, R. H. Khawaja, Secretary Tourism, Atal Dullo also spoke on the occasion while Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul were present on the occasion.