Increasing footfall
Jammu and Kashmir is presently on everyone’s visit list. Thousands of tourists are making a beeline to this place with most of the visitors preferring to visit Kashmir valley to beat the summer heat.
Since the past few months now Kashmir Valley is witnessing an exponential increase in the tourism flow. According to statistics provided by J&K tourism department, March 2022 broke the 10-year tourist arrival record in Kashmir, signaling that the tourism industry is finally on the path to recovery.
Notably, around 1.42 lakh tourists visited J&K during February alone, breaking the seven-year record. Remarkably, on April 4 this year, the Srinagar International Airport recorded busiest day ever in history, with 15,014 people travelling on 90 flights in and out of Kashmir.
Given the rush of flights, the Ministry of Civil Aviation approved the five flights a week schedule between Srinagar-Sharjah. Besides, the administration has launched J&K Tourist Village Network under Mission Youth to attract more tourists and provide them varied options for enjoying their stay here.
The initiative is aimed at transforming 75 villages of the UT known for historical, picturesque beauty, and cultural significance into tourist villages. This youth-led sustainable tourism initiative will strengthen rural economy and community entrepreneurship, empowering youth and women by providing direct and indirect employment opportunities.
As of now the administration is trying hard to adopt best practices recognizing the uniqueness of each village and showcasing the landscapes, indigenous knowledge systems, cultural diversity and heritage, local values and traditions, besides encouraging film shooting and offering financial incentives as well as ensuring a digital platform to all these villages.
Besides, a dedicated focus is also being laid on bringing unexplored religious places of Jammu on the religious tourist map to attract more tourists.
Since pilgrimage tourism is also being planned, a huge thrust can be provided to the tourism trade by the just started Amarnath Yatra. Presently, going by the interest the yatrs has generated among the people it seems that the arrivals can be in lakhs in the days to come and the footfall will continue for the next more than one month.
The arrival of an estimated seven to eight lakh pilgrims will provide a further impetus to the tourism sector as the tourist arrivals will ensure growth of many sectors here which includes trade and other activities like handicrafts as well.
The fresh and added footfall will also create an environment for further boost in tourism activities as Kashmir has been reporting a better and improved security situation during the past two years.
KV Network
