Srinagar: Amid unprecedented security foreign delegates arrived in Srinagar on Monday for the third G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting beginning today, officials said.
The three day G20 meet, is the first major international event in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, when the erstwhile state’s special status was scrapped and it became a Union Territory.
At Srinagar airport, the foreign delegates were welcomed in a traditional way.
Officials said at least 60 foreign delegates are attending the meeting. They said all G20 member countries are not participating in the meeting.
The third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting is beginning in a while at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conventional complex on the bank of Dal Lake in Srinagar. The SKICC has been decked like a bride for the three day G20 Meeting.
On Sunday G20 Chief Coordinator Harshvardhan Shringla said the three-day meeting will see the highest participation of foreign delegates as compared to the two previous meetings.
A three-tier security arrangement is in place in Srinagar city to thwart any militant plans to disrupt the meeting. Srinagar has been sanitized for the event and elite forces have been keeping an eye on the situation. CCTVs and an anti-drone system are keeping aerial surveillance in the entire city.
The traffic department has restricted traffic movement along the road leading to SKICC for three days.
However, there is no restriction on the movement of people or public transport in Srinagar, the officials said.
They said shops and business establishments are open across Srinagar.
The inaugural session of the Tourism Meeting will be attended by Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh and J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
Apart from discussions and deliberations, the delegates during the three day event will visit Mughal Gardens situated on the banks of Dal Lake and interact with the growers there.
The J&K administration has dropped a tour of delegates to the tourist resort of Gulmarg reportedly for security and logistic reasons.
The delegates will also visit the Government Arts Emporium in Srinagar, Polo View market, TRC Stadium and also take a ride on Shikaras.
The other engagements include visiting Kashmir Haat, a marketing platform to the people associated with handicrafts including artisans and is a one stop destination for the tourist looking for genuine Kashmir art & craft and SPS Museum Lalmandi.
Officials said a Craft Bazaar has been set up in the back lawns of SKICC having stalls showcasing the art and craft of Jammu & Kashmir. There will be live demonstrations by master Artisans of various crafts -Pashmina, Sozni, Walnut, Copper, Willow and Basoli painting etc.
Interactions with individuals who have demonstrated the power of creativity and determination in making a difference in the world, including prominent Individuals referred in Prime Minister’s Mann ki Baat, Tariq Ahmad Patlu, COVID Floating Ambulance, Lotus Stem FPO and Manzoor Ahmad, Pencil Slate Manufacturer.
Meanwhile, Kashmiri separatist group All Parties Hurriyat Conference said that conducting international events in J&K will not change the reality.
” Conducting international summits in J&K to push a certain narrative , will not change the reality of the need to address and resolve the lingering Kashmir conflict peacefully best through dialogue among stakeholders , if peace and development of J&K is the goal,” the APHC statement said on Sunday.
