Srinagar, June 17 -- Acknowledging IATO's efforts in promoting the Union Territory as a premier travel destination, Omar said, "We are very grateful to the IATO for coming here and organising this visit, because trust works both ways. Your presence assures us that we are on the right path."

Referring to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people-most of them tourists-the chief minister said the impact went beyond the immediate tragedy. "To call it unfortunate would be an understatement. It impacted not just 26 families directly but also affected the confidence of many more. Just when the season had begun to look promising, the downturn by mid-June was quite telling," he said.

Despite the setback, Omar s...