CM Omar Addresses ATOAI Annual Convention in Srinagar | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday addressed the 17th Annual Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, underlining Jammu and Kashmir’s potential as a premier destination for adventure tourism.

The four-day national event, running from December 17 to 20, 2025, aims to position Jammu and Kashmir as a leading global hub for adventure tourism. The inaugural session was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, Additional Secretary and DG Tourism Government of India Suman Billa, GoC 31 Sub Area Major General Abhijit Mitra, ATOAI President Ajeet Bajaj, JK Chapter Head Rauf Tramboo, senior tourism officials, police and civil administration officers, delegates and adventure tourism enthusiasts.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister praised ATOAI for organising its 17th annual convention in Srinagar, aimed at promoting responsible, sustainable, safe and resilient adventure tourism in the Union Territory. He highlighted JK’s longstanding prominence in adventure sports such as skiing, mountaineering and trekking globally, and stressed the importance of integrating technology to unlock the region’s adventure tourism potential.

Omar proposed the introduction of artificial snow in Gulmarg to extend the skiing season and mitigate the impact of climate change, noting the receding glaciers and delayed snowfalls as growing concerns. He underlined the need for high safety standards and quality equipment in activities such as white water rafting, paragliding, rock climbing, mountaineering and trekking.

During the event, the Chief Minister launched the JK Adventure Tourism Roadmap and Toolkit, inaugurated the Adventure Tourism Exhibition at SKICC, inspected stalls from different states, and participated in a hot air balloon ride to symbolically promote diverse adventure tourism experiences. He also presented ATOAI Awards, the Adventure Tourism Leadership Award, and special recognitions to achievers in the field.

ATOAI President Ajeet Bajaj presented a piece of stone collected from the summit of Mount Everest as a special souvenir to the Chief Minister. Abdullah expressed gratitude to the Union Tourism Minister for supporting JK’s tourism sector and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing adventure tourism in the region.