By Ovais Gull
Srinagar: As the world famous tourist destinations including the ski-resort received fresh snowfall on Wednesday, the tourism players here are expecting a good winter season ahead, with Travel agencies claiming that the inquiries from the tourists both in and outside the country have increased up to 50 percent.
The travel agencies while talking to INS said that the rush of tourists was not much in the past year but they are expecting a good season ahead, informing that the number of inquiries has been increased while on the New Year eve, all the hotels in Gulmarg were sold out and 60 percent of hotels in Pahalgam were also reserved.
Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) General Secretary, Farooq Ahmad Kuthoo said that all the hotels were sold in Gulmarg on New Year eve while as in Pahalgam 60 per cent hotels were also sold out.
“A huge rush of tourists was witnessed in the Valley on New Year,” he said, adding that after the fresh snow spell in Kashmir, the inquiries have increased up to 50 per cent.
He added that in the past year, the tourist flow was very less but in case there is aguard of change in New Delhi government, then the number of tourists this year will get increased. “In the previous years, the BJP led government and media launched a campaign against Kashmir therefore the rush of tourists was decreased,” he added.
He told INS that they are expecting a good season ahead keeping in view of increase in the inquiries, it seems that the tourist flow in this year will get increased, which would add joyous to the people affiliated with tourism industry.
Another local travel agent from Kashmir said that fresh snowfall in Kashmir has sent a positive message to outside State, thus compelling them to visit the Valley. “Since Jan 01, we have got number of inquiries from the tourists. The tourist rush would likely improve after this week,” he said.
The tourism players further appealed the authorities especially tourism department to organize more winter events in the Valley, which they believe would attract more and more tourists to the Valley in coming weeks.
