Srinagar, Kashmir is gearing up to host the G20 Summit from May 22-24 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC). This will be the first time the region has hosted an international summit of this magnitude. The event is expected to boost the tourism and trade sectors of the area and put Kashmir on the global map.
The city of Srinagar has been transformed into a smart city to make the event more attractive and historic. Important structures and monuments have been decorated with lights, and roads have been blacktopped. The world-renowned Dal Lake is also being decorated, and the Shikaras (boats) on the lake are being painted in new colors.
Around 50 delegates from various countries are expected to attend the summit and will be taken on a tour of the beautiful tourist places of Kashmir, including the Taj Gulmarg. The tourism department believes that this event will have a positive impact on tourism in the region.
However, security measures have been put in place ahead of the summit. Security has been tightened in the Jammu region, particularly in border districts, and more than 10 Army schools have been closed as part of precautionary measures. The security agencies have identified infiltration routes and stepped up security to prevent any infiltration from across the border.
To promote the tourism sector of Kashmir, the Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, has said that 300 places have been selected for the promotion of film tourism in the Union Territory.
The G20 summit includes countries such as the United States, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, and Russia, among others. The group meets annually, and this year it is chaired by India.
