Jammu Kashmir Tourism Bags Eco-Tourism Hotspot Award at IITM Hyderabad | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Tourism has won the Eco-Tourism Hotspot Award at the India International Tourism Mart (IITM) in Hyderabad, recognising the Union Territory’s growing focus on sustainable tourism practices.

The three-day tourism festival, which began on December 4, has drawn participation from several States and Union Territories, along with international delegations from Malaysia, Nepal, Botswana and other countries.

Officials said the award acknowledges the Department’s eco-tourism initiatives and its sustained promotional push across major tourism markets in recent months. The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism stall attracted significant interest from travel trade professionals and visitors, particularly for its adventure, MICE and wedding tourism offerings.

The Jammu and Kashmir delegation included Chief Executive Officer Kishtwar Development Authority Kaisar Ahmad Bhawani, Chief Executive Officer Wullar–Manasbal Development Authority Ahsanul Haq Chishti, General Manager JKTDC Riyaz Ahmad, Assistant Director Tourism Jammu Arif Ahmad Lone and Assistant Tourist Officer Sajid Kirmani, alongside several travel operators from the UT.

On the sidelines of the event, the delegation held a series of meetings with tour operators from Hyderabad and other parts of the country, and facilitated B2B sessions between tourism stakeholders from Jammu and Kashmir and other States. Discussions with bodies such as the Tour Operators Association of Telangana, FTCCI, UFTC, SKAL International and major travel companies stressed the need for stronger coordination between stakeholders to boost tourism collaboration.