Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government is planning to conduct a series of activities and events in order to attract more and more tourists in winters to boost UT’s economy further.
Secretary, Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez while talking exclusively to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that traditional July and August months remain off but they have witnessed three times more tourists in July month this year.
He said that they are also hoping that from September onwards the tourism flow will be good again and they are in contact with all stakeholders who have good number of bookings for upcoming months and all stakeholders are making good arrangements in this regard.
Recently Gurez has won the Gold Award for best offbeat destination in India and Gulmarg won the Silver Award for best adventure destination for Skiing which has sent positive vibes which will also help in attract more and more tourists.
“Series are events are being conducted as Wular festival is going on, Gurez festival is on 3rd September and all services are being improved and we are making every effort to attract more and more tourists,” he said, adding that as off season being natural phenomenon when less number of tourists are visiting here traditionally , the number of foreign tourists visiting Kashmir has increased considerably already more than double tourists as compared to last few years have visited J&K this year and we are hoping number will go many times more by end of this year.
Foreign tourism has picked up especially in those months when number of domestic tourists remains less, Hafeez said that “we are planning for services of facilities, adventure activities and events and we are working on them and are hopeful that tourism footfall will increase more. “
“We are making arrangements for autumn and followed by winter and many festivals are being organised and a grand houseboat and shikara festival is also being organised in this regard,” he said. “We are also planning such kind of events in Jammu division at several places like Basoli, Bani, Surinsar, Mansar and other places with a hope so that tourism footfall will increase again.”—(KNO)
