India, Oct. 15 -- At a meeting in Srinagar on Thursday, hoteliers, adventure tourism operators, environmentalists, legal experts and academics gathered to discuss a question facing Kashmir's tourism industry: how can the region attract visitors and generate income while protecting the landscapes that draw them here?

The meeting, held at Hotel Palm Springs in Wazir Bagh, marked the first round of consultations convened by the Ecotourism Association of Kashmir to formulate a comprehensive ecotourism policy for Jammu and Kashmir.

The association plans to hold further discussions with industry representatives, environmental specialists, academics and local communities before preparing a white paper for submission to the government.

The in...