Omar inaugurates Int`l Rafting C`ships

Sonamarg: Having a galaxy of foreign tourists in Jammu and Kashmir is an encouragement as they would act as ambassadors of peace for the valley in their countries, says Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

"The time you spend here participating in adventure tourism and warm hospitality from people of Kashmir, you will come back to take advantage what nature has bestowed us in Gulmarg and other tourist destinations and act as ambassadors of beauty and peace in your countries," he said after inaugurating Kashmir Cup International Rafting Championship.Omar said although J and K has suffered for the past 20 years due to turmoil, the situation has undergone a sea change. "Be it mountaineering, adventure and skiing, J and K is second to none in all forms of tourism. It is a problem of perception, there is a sea change in J and K of 1990 and 2009," he said. Besides teams of various states of the country, rafters from Canada, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic have already reported to the venue for August 6-8 event. Teams from USA, Holland and Hungary are expecting anytime, organisers said. A total of 11 teams of the country including three from Jammu and Kashmir are also taking part in the championship, director tourism F A Shah said. Bureau Report