Delegates for third G20 tourism meet arrive in Kashmir under a heavy security blanket

Foreign and local delegates attending the third G20 tourism working group meeting arrived in J&K’s summer capital Srinagar on Monday under a heavy blanket of security.

Foreign and local delegates attending the third G20 tourism working group meeting arrived in J&K’s summer capital Srinagar on Monday under a heavy blanket of security.

The delegates were received by Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant at the Srinagar Airport. Dogri and Kashmiri culture was put on display during the reception at the airport.

According to government officials, the Srinagar meeting has the highest participation registered compared to the first two tourism working group meetings at Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, and Siliguri, West Bengal. 

The biggest group of five delegates is tipped to be from Singapore. “Just landed in beautiful Srinagar for the G20 Kashmir 3rd Working Group Meeting on Tourism. Looking forward to discovering the wonderful sustainable tourism destinations and experiences in J&K!” Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong said, in a tweet.

Also read: Jammu & Kashmir: From a State with autonomy to two Union Territories

China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia had decided against sending their delegates for the meeting after Pakistan raised an objection to holding the G20 meeting in J&K. 

The delegates were taken in a cavalcade to the hotels and the venue on the Dal lake. The road leading to the main venue, Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), has been restricted for vehicular traffic. The decked-up venue will display Kashmiri art and music on the first day, with a replica of the Martand Temple, the famous sun temple from the 8th Century located in south Kashmir, and a shikara (boat) in the backdrop.