Now, tourism players raise pitch for Tosa Maidan

Now, tourism players raise pitch for Tosa Maidan

Srinagar, Mar 27: Amid huge public outcry against any extension of lease of Tosa Maidan to Army as firing range, Valley-based tour operators today suggested to the government to promote the meadow as a tourism destination.

President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK), Peerzada Fayaz said the place, which is a meadow, has great potential to become a tourist destination.

“The nature has bestowed this place with bounty of natural wealth. It needs to be harnessed, which can be done by bringing the place on the tourism map,” Fayaz said. The TAAK president said the place has the potential to become one of the best tourist destinations in Kashmir and it could attract tourists both from India as well as abroad.

President, Adventure Tour Operators’ Association of Kashmir or ATOAK, Rouf Tramboo said this place has a great potential to be developed as an adventure tourism destination. “We lose a lot of business because we cannot sell this place because of the Army presence there.”

Tramboo said the place is highly suitable for the adventure tourism activities. “But since it is being used as a firing range by the Army, we cannot take a risk to bring tourists there as there remains apprehension of any accident.”

“In fact we want to extend our tourism adventure activities beyond this region as well. If the place is made available for the tourism adventure activities, it would give a big boost to the tourism sector in Kashmir,” he said.

President, JKSMA— Jammu and Kashmir Ski and Mountaineering Association, Muhammad Yousuf said this place can become a hub of adventure and recreational tourism destination. “But unless this is thrown open for the tourists, we cannot sell it. It is high time that government considered the genuine demands of the people in general and tourism players in particular regarding promoting this place as a tourism destination,” he said.

Spread over around 3000 kanals of land, Tosamaidan meadow in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district was taken by Army on lease for conducting artillery drills in 1964. The 50-year lease period of Tosamaidan will expire on April 18 this year. Army has approached the government seeking lease extension.

Now, tourism players raise pitch for Tosa Maidan