A walk down memory lane

India Travel Award winner Krishan Kumar Amla, Chairman & Managing Director, Broadway Enterprises, reminisces the 1988 TAAI convention in the Valley by penning down some fond memories and anecdotes for TRAVTALK. TAAI is now all set to host its 64th convention in Srinagar.

Srinagar probably has the distinction of hosting the maximum number of TAAI annual conventions in the country. The last was held in the year 1988, the eighth TAAI convention in J&K. In Srinagar, I was a member on most host committees and headed a few.

The beauty and hospitality of Kashmir has always attracted tourists from everywhere—home and abroad. However, every time there was a decline in tourism in Jammu & Kashmir, TAAI as well as Departments of Tourism, both national and state, rose to the occasion of rebuilding this destination, which justifies the many conventions held here.

One of the highlights of the convention was the organisation of a river procession on the Jhelum, which went on to the old city and then to the lake where a regatta by school children was held. It turned out to be a great event for both visitors and locals

The delegates were hosted by the local trade bodies in Gulmarg and Pahalgam on their visit. The traders were requested to give discounts to delegates on shopping, while the media reported and promoted various events that happened at the time. Banners were put up in Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg to welcome the delegates. Trade bodies such as Traders Union, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Shikara Association, Transport Associations, schools and universities, etc were kept involved.

As a special attraction, Hotel Broadway presented a car in a draw for the TAAI members, and it was won by a delegate from Kolkata. When the winning delegate remarked, “How do I take it to Kolkata?” the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir arranged to have it airlifted to the city for him.

For the upcoming convention, it is requested from TAAI delegates to market Kashmir aggressively and innovatively to bring tourism back to health in Kashmir, which in turn will help the travel trade at large along with the people of Kashmir.