TRIBUNE SPECIAL: World Tourism Day Today: J&K set to witness record tourist arrivals this year

TRIBUNE SPECIALState set to witness record tourist arrivals this year Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 26
The militancy-plagued Jammu and Kashmir is all set to create a new record of tourist arrivals this year. According to official figures, the number of tourists who have visited the state till September 15 this year has surpassed the tourist arrivals during the corresponding period last year.
Tourism Department officials attributed this to the prevailing peace in the state and innovative steps taken by the state government, which, they said, had benefited the tourism industry, the second major source of income of the state after horticulture.
Tour and travel operators said hotels and guest houses were receiving a large number of domestic as well as foreign tourists.

“The Amarnath land row in 2008; the Shopian double murder case in 2009 and the unrest in the Valley and Leh cloudburst in 2010 had affected the tourism sector. However, the return of normalcy and effective steps by the state government have paid positive dividends this year. If the situation continues to be similar, the day is not far when our state will get the maximum number of tourists,” said Bashir Ahmad, a local tour operator.
The Ladakh region, which was devastated by flash floods last year, has so far witnessed an all-time high number of tourists. Till mid-September, the region has witnessed 1,48,558 tourists, which is almost double that of last year’s arrivals.
Similarly, 10,71,486 tourists, including 21,970 foreigners, have visited the Kashmir valley this year till September 15. In 2010, a total of 7,36,488 tourists had visited the valley.
The annual Amarnath yatra also saw an all-time high number of devotees this year. As many as 6.25 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine. Last year, the number was 4.58 lakh.
The Vaishno Devi shrine is expected to create a new record as far as the pilgrim arrivals are concerned. As many as 72,64,637 pilgrims have visited the shrine till mid-September. The number was 61.55 lakh during the corresponding period last year.
Robin Mehta, Director, Tourism, Jammu region, said, “The policies framed by the state government and the keen interest taken by Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora have yielded good results. We are trying to attract more tourists and a number of promotional activities have been arranged across the state. Besides, appeals have been made to other countries to lift their adverse tourism advisories.”
Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director, Tourism, Kashmir, said, “Although we have crossed the figure of tourist arrivals till mid-September last year, yet a lot of work remains to attract more tourists.”
He said over 90 lakh tourists had so far arrived in the state and the record of last year would be “easily achieved by mid-October”.
Nissar Hussain, Assistant Director, Tourism, Ladakh, said, “Though Ladakh witnessed its “worst-ever situation” last year due to the cloudburst, yet the figures of tourist arrivals till date are encouraging and indicate that tourists are inclined towards the natural beauty of this picturesque region.”

Tourists shop along Srinagar’s Dal Lake. Over 10 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir so far this year. — AFP