Tourism healing

The peace overtures between India and Pakistan appear to have had a healing effect on the Valley’s ailing tourism industry.After years ...

The peace overtures between India and Pakistan appear to have had a healing effect on the Valley’s ailing tourism industry.

After years of continuous violence, Srinagar is now witnessing a different kind of invasion this spring — that of tourists. Tourism has picked up so rapidly that there are almost 1,000 foreign and domestic tourists arriving daily, which has led to an overflow of bookings says Director General, Tourism, Mohammad Saleem Beig. The tourism authorities are expecting an unprecedented 5 lakh tourists this season. ‘‘Upto May in 2002 and 2003, only 4,378 and 4,760 tourists respectively, visited the Valley. However, by May 5, around 45,145 tourists arrived in Kashmir which is an encouraging sign for the people associated with the industry,’’ he said.

To attract more people to the Valley, Beig said many groups from outside the state are interested in organising musical and sports festivals at tourist destinations. ‘‘Even though Kashmir has tremendous tourism potential, people stayed away. Every year, 28 lakh tourists arrive in the country. Our endeavour is to attract most of them,’’ he said.

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Beig said that for the revival of the industry, the government has already extended Rs 350 million as tourism package for those associated with the trade. ‘‘For renovation of hotels, houseboats and shikaras, the government has given us loans. We want to provide homely comforts to the tourists,’’ he informed. Mohammad Azeem Tuman, chairman Houseboat and Hotel Union, said: ‘‘Presently, half of the houseboats registered with the union are full. A majority of the tourists are from Gujarat, Maharashtra and the southern states. We hope that the number of tourists will touch new heights after May 15.’’ He said everyday, tourists are inquiring about bookings and rates.

‘‘Most tourists prefer to stay at the Dal Lake. Other spots like Gulmarg too attract a number of visitors,’’ said Tuman. Ashiq Ahmad, a shikarawalla at the Dal Lake said: ‘‘This year, we have witnessed a lot of tourists. Compared to the previous years, this time, bookings are five times more.