Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti meets Australian delegation

The Chief Minister made these observations during a meeting with a high-level Australian business delegation here.

“I am looking forward to your support in changing perception about travelling to Kashmir which deprives us of our fair share of overseas
visitors,” she told the visiting delegation.

Laying impetus on greater interface between students, entrepreneurs and travel industry of J&K and Australia, Mehbooba Mufti said, "While
our stakeholders will benefit immensely from importation of best practices, those from countries like Australia will get to see a J&K which is totally different from how it is projected before the world."

Mehbooba also discussed in details the need for taking tangible measures towards revising the travel advisory on J&K, which she said
will help increase tourist footfall from Australia.

The Australian Ambassador to India, Patrick Suckling, in his meeting with former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, a few months ago had promised to take up the issue so that more businessmen and tourists visit J&K.

The members of the delegation informed the Mufti about how their perspective on traveling to Kashmir has changed the moment they landed
here.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister also discussed the possibilities of partnership in various key areas like education, tourism, horticulture, handicrafts and skill development.

She also sought sharing of knowledge from down under, particularly in sheep-rearing and fruit processing, where Australia has set global benchmarks.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)