The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has announced a strategic administrative appointment aimed at bringing cohesive infrastructure focus to the region’s burgeoning tourism sector. Syed Qamar Sajad (JKAS), currently serving as the Managing Director of the high-profile Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation, has been appointed as the new Director, Tourism, Kashmir. As per the official order, Sajad will continue to hold the charge of the Cable Car Corporation alongside his new directorial responsibilities until further directives are issued, creating a pivotal dual role.
This appointment comes at a critical juncture for Kashmir, which has witnessed a multi-year surge in visitor arrivals, positioning tourism as one of the primary pillars of the region’s economic growth. Crucially, the move also addresses long-standing concerns regarding operational efficiency and safety. The Cable Car Corporation, particularly responsible for the high-altitude Gulmarg Gondola—a major tourism lifeline—has historically been under intense public and official scrutiny regarding safety protocols and capacity management. By placing the Corporation’s chief at the helm of tourism policy, the administration is underscoring its commitment to operational accountability, effectively merging infrastructure management with promotional oversight. This is seen as a direct government acknowledgment that these crucial high-stakes operations require stability and strategic leadership to maintain visitor confidence and ensure operational excellence.
Sajad’s concurrent charge is a strategic maneuver that will allow for faster decision-making on tourism infrastructure projects, particularly those related to ropeways, chairlifts, and multimodal connectivity that link major tourist destinations. Industry experts believe this convergence will help accelerate the integration of existing transport infrastructure with new developmental blueprints, fulfilling the long-standing demand for coordinated investment in hospitality and visitor access projects. The reliance on officers from the native Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) cadre for such crucial economic roles highlights the administration’s confidence in local talent to drive the region’s economic transformation agenda forward. With global attention increasingly focused on the valley’s post-reforms development, Sajad’s leadership in this combined capacity will be closely watched, as his mandate involves both sustaining the current high influx of visitors and carefully expanding the region’s tourism footprint in a sustainable manner across both established and newly identified heritage and nature destinations.
