Srinagar, Jan 12 (IANS) India’s liquor baron Vijay Mallya, chairman and managing director of the UB Group, said here Monday his Kingfisher Airlines would announce attractive tour packages to boost Kashmir tourism in 2009.”I am excited at Omar Abdullah becoming the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. My relationship with the Abdullahs is spread over three generations and I think better days are ahead for the people of the state under his young and dynamic leadership,” Mallya told reporters.

He said the Srinagar airport had now all the facilities of an international airport and the time had come for direct international flights from here.

“My Kingfisher Airlines will announce additional flight schedules to increase connectivity between the three (Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu) regions of the state and the rest of the country,” he said.

Mallya said the Royal Springs Golf course in Srinagar was one of the best in the world.

“Undoubtedly, the Royal Springs Golf course in Srinagar is one of the best in the world and it can do a lot to make Kashmir an international golf destination,” he said.

He said the north Kashmir ski resort of Gulmarg had one of the best slopes in the world.

“I have done skiing at almost all the international ski resorts of the world, and I say it with confidence that Gulmarg has some of the best ski slopes in the world.”

He said his company would approach the state government to re-start production of hops in the Kashmir Valley which had been stopped because of the adverse security situation here.