NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, SEP 23
With an aim to attract tourists, especially Gujarati film industry, post-COVID, Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department on Tuesday announced that it has unveiled a new Film Tourism policy to help the production houses for shooting in Jammu and Kashmir, say top officials of the department.
Natasha Kalsotra, Joint Director, Tourism Jammu said, “The UT government offers a slew of incentives, including subsidy to the film industry for shooting in Jammu and Kashmir.Apart from the incentives, the new policy assures complete hand-holding – from permissions, for which a single-window clearance system is in place, which is monitored by the principal secretary to the L-G’s office, to manpower support, security cover, etc. He is the chairman of the Film Tourism Council and he monitors everything related to the clearances and the support system.”
Gurez has often been chosen as a location for shoots in recent years. Similarly, Bangus, Yusmarg, Doodhpatri, etc. also have the potential to follow, Itoo said.
Kalsotra said that while destinations such Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Dal Lake, etc are traditionally popular film shooting locations, the agenda is to introduce new areas to production houses.
Gurez has often been chosen as a location for shoots in recent years. Similarly, Bangus, Yusmarg, Doodhpatri, etc. also have the potential to follow, Kalsotra said.
On this occasion, Masarat Hashim, CEO, Pahalgam Development Authority said, “Recently many new and off-beat destinations have been added like Gurez, Tosamaidan, Bangus, Doodhpathari in Kashmir division & Bahderwah, Sarthal, Bani, Peer ki Gali, Kishtwar etc. in Jammu division. Moreover, many positive steps taken by the administration for the safety of the tourists. As part of the Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav, 75 festivals will be organized from 23rd of October till the year end.”
Elaborating more on the tourism promotional activities, Ankush Soni, Officer In-charge, Tourism Office, Ahmedabad, said, “Gujarat, particularly Ahmedabad has been a traditional market for J&K and has been sharing an excellent & vibrant relationship with all stakeholders & service providers. Post-COVID J&K was the first to open up for tourists and a good number of tourists visited J&K. More than 95% of stakeholders, service providers & officials of the tourism department have been vaccinated to ensure the security and safety of tourists with their first contact.”
A cycling event at Sabarmati River front has also been organized. Officials of Tourism Department, local travel trade fraternity wearing tourism promotional outfits participated in the event.
All the relevant information was shared with the representatives of the Film Industry in order to encourage them to visit and shoot in J&K.
The officers of Tourism department J&K extended invitation laced with love & affection to the people of Gujarat, especially Ahmedabad.
