As tourists pour into Kashmir, some concerns by stakeholders

“With trains reaching Srinagar soon, we are expecting greater influx of tourists, but with that we are also worried about over-tourism and concerned for our ecology,” Nasir Shah, chairman of the Indian Association of Tour Operators’ Kashmir chapter, said.

He also pitched for environmental assessments to be conducted that safeguard local interests, while promoting tourism in Kashmir.

Some stakeholders also underscored the difficulties faced by foreign tourists with regard to filling “long and complicated” forms at the airport. Saying that the formality “seeks to alienate” foreign tourists as they land in Srinagar, stakeholders sought a simplification of the form if not a removal of the requirement.

Meanwhile, Zahoor Ahmad from the Tourist Trade Interest Guild (TTIG) informed DG, Tourism, about the difficulties faced by tourists with some destinations getting an increased influx of tourists. “There are hour-long queues in the Gulmarg Gondola, and traffic jams on the way to many locations. This dampens the experience, and therefore, there is a need to develop more tourist destinations and provide alternatives to Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg,” he said.

Sameet Baktoo, from the Eco-tourism Society of Kashmir, sought the Ministry of Tourism’s intervention in regulating the number of tourists at these destinations citing limited carrying capacities at these locations. This was echoed by the Director of the Gulmarg Development Authority, Wasim Raja, who was present at the conference. “Gulmarg has a carrying capacity of about 3,500 people and we sometimes see even 10,000 people in a day,” he said.

Speaking at the event, the DG Saxena also cautioned against over-tourism and stated that while “we feel pride at the tourism numbers from Kashmir, there are also concerns. Tourist pressure can become a problem, and we need a safety valve,” she said.

She also highlighted stakeholder responsibility and grievances of tourists – such as overcharging by service providers – and offered training for locals associated with the industry.