Srinagar, April 05: Kashmir is witnessing a good tourist footfall over the past few months with March witnessing over 81 percent jump in arrivals compared to the previous month.
The hoteliers are also registering over 80 percent hotel occupancy across Kashmir while most of the elite hotels in Srinagar and Gulmarg are fully occupied for over a month.
As per official figures, over one lakh travellers visited Kashmir this year so far.
January saw 19102 arrivals, 26180 in February and 47593 in March.
Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez said that the department of tourism had launched aggressive marketing campaigns across many cities in the country and also organised mobilisation of the travel and hospitality sector which attracted tourists to the Valley.
He said that the tour and travel association, houseboat owners and hoteliers have also played a key role to resume the tourism activities in Kashmir.
“Department of Tourism also organised a series of festivities to create a buzz and which helped attract travellers”.
The department has many more events in the pipeline for the summer season.
“We have conducted roadshows in other states of the country to attract tourists to Kashmir and also apprise them about the measures taken to contain COVID19 and SOPs put in place for the travellers. This encouraged them to visit Kashmir,” said Sarmad.
Sarmad said that the tourist arrival we are having right now is a good beginning and will build our confidence to have more tourists.
“We have guidelines, SOPs for tourists so that they can feel safe and secure while visiting Kashmir.”
However, the increasing COVID19 cases in the Valley has put a dampener in the sector. The travel industry is apprehensive of the good tourists’ footfall in summer if COVID19 cases increase.
Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club said they have over 80 percent booking in hotels and they are following all SOPs for the safety of the travellers.
Chairman of the Club Mushtaq Chaya said the Government is doing aggressive testing of the travellers at Srinagar airport and all other entry points.
“Travellers are visiting Kashmir as they know SOPs are in place. Hoteliers are also adhering to all the guidelines and sanitising the room regularly,” he said.
President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir Farooq Kuthoo said that they are getting a good response from the tourists and booking is being made in good numbers.
He, however, said the government should see to it that no Covid19 positive case enters the Valley.
“We have been sitting idle for the past many years but now good tourist footfall has brought cheers to the tourism industry. However the government has to take more measures to ensure that COVID19 is contained,” said Kuthoo.
He said currently tourists are being tested at Srinagar airport and all other entry points through surface links.
“We cannot shut down tourism because of the rising Covid-19 cases as it is the source of livelihood of many locals. However, we are trying to impress upon the government to make Covid-19 testing mandatory to all the tourists who come to the valley.”
He said the tourists should either be tested at the airport and given the results at the same time or they should be asked to get testing from home only.
“If traveller intending to visit Kashmir turns positive at home only, he will cancel the plan which is the best way to ensure no COVID19 infected tourist visits the Valley,” he said.
As per sources, the government is also mulling to issue fresh guidelines for the travellers visiting Kashmir.
Sources said the administration is holding a meeting on Tuesday with the travel trade sector to devise the plans for travellers.