Srinagar, Oct 25 : The Kashmir International Marathon has recorded 2,136 registrations this year, including 73 foreign participants from 12 countries, as the Tourism Department looks to expand the event’s national and international profile.
Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad said the department had sought to organise the marathon on a larger scale this year, with registrations exceeding those of the previous two editions.
Speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), Sajjad said the department had become a member of the Association of International Marathon and Distance Races (AIMS) and was working towards further strengthening the event’s international standing.
“There is great scope for the development and growth of the marathon within the Union Territory, across the country and internationally,” he said.
Sajjad said the participation of runners from India and abroad could help promote Kashmir as a tourism destination, adding that participants could carry their experiences of the Valley to audiences beyond the region.
He also highlighted the marathon route, which offers views of Dal Lake, the Zabarwan Hills and Mughal gardens, describing the setting as one of the event’s distinguishing features.
The Director Tourism said the department hoped to build on the growing interest in the marathon and expand its reach in the coming years. He described national and international runners as potential ambassadors for Kashmir tourism.
The event is part of the department’s efforts to use sporting activities to attract visitors and showcase the Valley’s natural landscape he added. (KNS)
