Srinagar, Dec 25: Kashmir valley has seen a significant surge in the tourist influx in the year 2023 .The stakeholders and those associated with the industry are pinning their hopes that the tourist arrivals will provide a boost to economic stability of the region.
Besides the visitors flocking to the valley from other places of the country, international tourists arrived in Kashmir in large numbers paving a way for Kashmir to be on the map as a favourite tourist destination. The record breaking tourist footfall has not only given a fillip to the tourism sector but also paved ways for new opportunities across all the sectors directly or indirectly dependent on the tourism sector.
The officials revealed that more than 18,000 foreign tourists had visited Kashmir in the first five months of this year.
This surge marks the highest number of foreign tourists in the region in the past three decades, reflecting a revival of its reputation as a global tourist hotspot.
People associated with the tourism sector see it as an opportunity for a business and economy of Kashmir valley.
“Tourism is the backbone of the economy in Kashmir, and has been contributing significantly to the local economy over the years. A major chunk of population in Kashmir valley is directly or indirectly dependent on the tourism sector. Increasing tourist arrivals will surely increase the business of people of the valley. Whether it is the transport community, hoteliers, handicraft sector, tourism has the potential to push our business,” Javed Ahmad Tenga, president Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries said.
Abdul Rashid , who owns a chain of hotels and resorts on Gulmarg road said, “As the record number of tourists have visited Kashmir, the highest in many years, bookings in hotels remained in demand which has surely increased the business.”
The officials revealed that the ski resort of Gulmarg also attracted a record number of tourists this year.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, the officials of the department of tourism said that 15 lakh tourists visited Gulmarg in the first eleven months of this year. These figures also include 9,750 foreigners, approximately 300,000 local tourists, and 10 lakh domestic tourists.
The stakeholders attribute the increase to the G20 Summit which was held in Srinagar this year in the month of May. They see the upsurge as an opportunity to fillip the business and economy of the UT.
“The successful conduct of the G20 meeting served as a catalyst towards drawing foreign tourists to Kashmir. This has surely exhibited Kashmir’s landscape as well as our treasured arts and crafts to the outside world. Valley’s population is dependent on the tourism sector directly or indirectly. All are connected to the tourism sector”, an official from the tourism department said.
Pertinently the arrival of tourists paves way for opportunities for the business sector of the valley which has been witnessing a slump in the past so many years.
Pertinent to mention, the tourism industry in the state of Jammu and Kashmir generates around Rs. 8,000 crores annually, contributing to nearly 7% of J&K UT’s GDP. The sector garners immense potential to boost the local economy and open business opportunities.
