SRINAGAR, OCT 18: After a thriving summer tourist season, the Jammu and Kashmir administration is gearing up to introduce an all-encompassing plan aimed at enhancing the charm of Kashmir to travellers for the upcoming winter season.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has already said that the Union Territory has registered 1.27 crore tourist arrivals in the first seven months of this year, and the figure was expected to touch a record high by the year-end, crediting restoration of peace and normalcy for making it possible.
J&K received 1.88 crore tourists in 2022, a high number for any region. A tourism official emphasized the determination to go to great lengths in order to make the winter season alluring for visitors to the Kashmir Valley. “The department is crafting an extensive array of winter events,” the official said.
In the previous year, the introduction of ski courses in Gulmarg marked a significant initiative, and this time, the program will continue. Additional initiatives and activities are being actively explored for the winter months, as the official explained. “We intend to host an abundance of events to entice tourists during the winter season,” he said.
Kashmir has traditionally been a magnet for tourists, particularly those who seek the skiing thrills that Gulmarg offers during the winter. “Kashmir is renowned as a winter wonderland, and tourism stakeholders in the valley are eagerly anticipating a substantial influx of winter tourists. All necessary preparations will be meticulously put in place,” the official assured.
The other tourism officials also spoke on the matter, stressing the need to infuse more vibrancy into winter tourism this year. “While we have been hosting sporting events, this year, we plan to introduce exciting additions to enhance the overall winter experience,” the officials shared.
Furthermore, the officials said that during the winter months, the Tourism Department will organize cultural programs. “Winter provides an ideal backdrop for such activities and is expected to draw more people to Kashmir,” he said.
One of the top officials here in the Raj Bhawan said that the government led by Manoj Sinha is committed to rejuvenating the tourism landscape of the Kashmir Valley, presenting a broader array of attractions and cultural experiences to entice tourists during the colder months.
The government has also refurbished the roads leading to tourist destinations of Kashmir such as Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, Gulmarg and Yusmarg so that the tourists don’t face any inconvenience during their visit.
The administration has also been holding meetings with key stakeholders to ensure that the tourists don’t face inconvenience in terms of the supply of electricity and water to the tourist destinations during winter.
One of the hoteliers said that all the hotels, restaurants and cafes all across the Kashmir Valley are bracing up for winter tourism and are expecting huge tourists in the winter period to be fully occupied during the winter season.
He said that all three top tourist destinations – Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg – are the perfect choice for every tourist of domestic or international repute to visit and cherish the cold of winter, enjoy snowfall and feel the real fragrance of “Paradise on Earth” here only in this world.
He added that the night landing facility at Srinagar airport has increased the travel comfort of tourists by providing extended travel time windows to them.
