Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the prestigious Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) Kolkata 2025 at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, marking a significant moment in India’s travel trade calendar. As India’s oldest and most trusted B2B travel trade show, TTF Kolkata offers a dynamic platform for fostering tourism collaboration, and this year, it spotlighted Jammu & Kashmir’s transformation into a year-round, all-segment tourist destination.
Addressing an audience of travel professionals, industry stakeholders, and dignitaries, the Chief Minister emphasized TTF’s role in deepening cultural and economic ties between Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal. He highlighted the state’s rapid advancements in tourism infrastructure, accessibility, and community engagement, positioning J&K as a leading destination for both domestic and international travelers.
Omar Abdullah showcased the evolving tourism map of J&K, with a strong focus on off-beat and border destinations like Gurez, Bangus, Bhaderwah, Sanasar, Doodhpathri, Basohli, Uri, Keran, Teetwal, and Suchetgarh. He also underlined the government’s commitment to empowering local communities through homestays, especially those led by women in rural districts like Kupwara and Ganderbal.
Adventure, wedding, and film tourism also took center stage in the Chief Minister’s remarks. He noted the growing appeal of skiing, alpine lake trekking, and mountaineering, the rising trend of destination weddings in Gulmarg and Srinagar, and the revival of Bollywood in the Valley. Golf tourism is booming too, with world-class courses in Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar, and Jammu attracting global players.
Reinforcing J&K’s commitment to sustainable tourism, he cited recognitions such as the SKOCH Silver Award for the Homestay Initiative, multiple accolades under the Ministry of Tourism’s Best Rural Homestay Awards, and honors from the ‘Travel for LIFE’ sustainability initiative. Aru village in Pahalgam was also awarded Best Tourism Village in the Adventure Category.
Looking ahead, Abdullah outlined Jammu & Kashmir’s ambitions to become a hub for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), driven by natural beauty, cultural richness, and upgraded infrastructure. He stressed the importance of sustainability, heritage conservation, and inclusive development, positioning J&K as a global model for responsible and transformative tourism.
He concluded with a heartfelt invitation to investors, delegates, and travelers from West Bengal and beyond to explore the renewed charm of Jammu & Kashmir, reaffirming its emotional and cultural connection with Eastern India.
The three-day TTF Kolkata 2025, running from July 10–12, features over 500 exhibitors from 25+ Indian states and 14+ countries, attracting more than 5,500 verified travel trade professionals, making it Eastern India’s largest tourism networking platform ahead of the festive travel season.
