The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Amid the tourism boom, the J&K administration has constituted district-level committees to be headed by the concerned deputy commissioners for the identification of land to establish 5-star hotels in the Union Territory.

The move comes at a time when J&K is witnessing a huge tourism influx. Earlier, the local news agency KNO reported that over a million tourists including a record number of foreign guests have visited Kashmir till mid-May.

As per the order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), number—1116-J&KGAD, dated May 30, 2024, sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of district level committee (s) for identification of land for establishment of 5-star hotels in the Union Territory.

The panel(s), as per the order, will have concerned deputy commissioners as its chairman with the concerned Director Tourism, DFO, Chief Town Planner, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of District Industries Centre as its members.

“The terms of reference of the committee(s) will be to identify suitable land for the establishment of 5-star hotels. This may include state land, forest land, private land etc having the potential and feasibility considering factors such as accessibility and other basic infrastructure required for the project,” the order reads.

The panel(s), as per the order, will submit the proposal through Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Jammu to the Tourism Department. The panel(s) will have to identify the site and suggest the distance from the tourist destination and road connectivity as well.

Officials in the Tourism Department said that there is a dire need to set up the 5-star hotels in J&K given the huge tourist influx. “When we intend to host over two crore tourists, there is a need to have quality infrastructure as well. This time, we are witnessing good arrivals of foreign guests from South East Asian countries and to give them better experience beyond the natural beauty of the Valley, we should have 5-star hotels across the UT,” he said and welcomed the J&K administration’s move of setting up panel(s) for identification of land for 5-star hotels.

A tourism official said that there are very few 5-star hotels in J&K and to host foreign guests, business class and quality tourists from the country, having 5-star accommodations will help push the sector further up,” he said.

The official said last year’s successful and peaceful G-20 summit has helped lure a large number of foreign tourists to J&K. “This year, we intend to host over 2.5 crore tourists, which will be a record,” he said.

SRINAGAR — Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Tuesday convened a meeting to review the arrangements at Asia's largest Tulip Garden for visitors.

The meeting was attended by Director Floriculture, SSP Traffic Srinagar, Joint Commissioner SMC, officers of the Tourism department and Srinagar Smart City Limited.

The meeting held a threadbare discussion regarding the opening of the garden for visitors, traffic management, parking space, sanitation, cleanliness drive, fixing of potholes, online ticketing and other arrangements.

Asia's largest Tulip Garden at the foothills of Zabarwan Hills will bloom with 17 lakh flowers of different varieties this year and will be thrown open for visitors on March 23.

Addressing the officers, the Divisional Commissioner directed the concerned officer of Floriculture to facilitate online ticketing and put QR Code scanning facilities at different locations for the convenience of tourists.

He also enjoined the operation of colourful lights to enhance the visual vibrancy of the place. Moreover, he directed SMC to conduct a sanitation and cleanliness drive at the garden besides ensuring the availability of a separate mobile toilet facility for ladies and gents at the venue.

Further, he directed the concerned to repair potholes on the roads leading to the garden.

The meeting was informed that the department has added four kanals of additional parking space in the garden for the convenience of visitors.

SRINAGAR — In a major initiative to promote gender inclusiveness in tourism activities, the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir has decided to register more female tourist guides and impart professional training to them to upscale their skills.

In the first instance, a batch of 100 females would be chosen who shall be imparted professional training in guiding after registering them with the Department.

According to Director, Tourism Kashmir, Raja Yaqoob, the idea is to further improve gender parity in the tourism sector and instil a sense of confidence among the female tourists who roughly constitute around fifty per cent of the tourist footfall to Kashmir Valley. This, he said, would further improve and professionalise the service delivery system in the tourism sector in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Tourism Kashmir celebrated National Tourism Day today across various tourist destinations of Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Yousmarg etc with the intent to highlight nature conservation and sustainable Tourism.

SRINAGAR — Several tourism stakeholders have expressed concern over the soaring airfares which they say have dampened the tourist inflow with the arrival of the peak season.

While talking to the news agency KNO, the tourism stakeholders said they are facing a massive decline and cancellations of fresh bookings.

"Many tourists aspiring to visit the valley have cancelled their plans due to skyrocketing airfares," said Nisar Shah, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance.

He said, “None of their fresh queries are maturing and all our potential clients are turning down the travel programme due to skyrocketing airfares.”

"A group of eight people from Mumbai had planned a visit to Kashmir with my agency but due to the 'extremely high price' of air tickets, they changed the destination. The air tickets for each individual cost them around Rs 40,000 for the two-way trip, so they dropped the plan," he said.

Shah said the halting of operations by Go First airlines has also added to their woes. "Those who had booked tickets in advance are yet to get alternatives while the air prices are soaring with every passing day," he said.

Earlier in the week, Go First airlines in a tweet informed that their flight operations will remain cancelled till May 19, 2023, citing operational reasons.

Following this, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed the cash-strapped airline Go First to stop the sale of tickets with immediate effect, asking the airline to issue refunds to passengers against cancelled flights.

In a tweet, Go First airline said, “Due to operational reasons, Go First flights until 19th May 2023 are cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and request customers to visit https://bit.ly/42ab9la for more info. For any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact us.”

Attributing the decline in fresh tourist booking to “soaring” airfares, the Chairman of the Kashmir Houseboats Owners Association—KHOA, Manzoor Pakthoon said that despite already existing issues with tourist bookings, they are now witnessing a huge decline in fresh bookings. He said that aspiring visitors find Dubai or other destinations economical as compared to the Kashmir Valley.

The tourism stakeholders said they have been demanding a cap on airfares for a long time now. "Despite our pleas and repeated representations on the issue, nothing positive has happened to address our concern," he said.

Meanwhile, many netizens on social media highlighted the issue of skyrocketing prices of air tickets.

It is pertinent to mention that a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture in 2021 in its report stated that the airfares to J&K during peak season go equivalent to those on foreign destinations as a result of which people prefer visiting foreign countries.

SRINAGAR — A trip to Kashmir from Delhi, Gujarat or Mumbai becomes costlier for any visitor than visiting any South Asian country which has become worrisome for tourism players of the valley.

If one has a look at the airfare chart by portals like MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip, an air ticket from Delhi to Srinagar costs Rs 15,000 which normally is Rs 4,000-5,000, indicating a 300 percent increase in airfare for the last two weeks. Similarly, the airfare from Gujarat is Rs 16,000 and there is almost the same airfare from Maharashtra to Srinagar.

Presently, airfare from Delhi to Colombo (Sri Lanka) is just Rs 11,000 and Rs 22,000 for Dubai.

Mahesh Bhat, a businessman from Mumbai came to Kashmir on March 15 along with his wife and two sons. “Each ticket cost us Rs 18,000 from Mumbai to Srinagar. Last year in October, I went to Dubai and the airfare from Delhi to Dubai was Rs 21,000. We are visiting our part of the country still, it becomes costlier for us than any Asian country,” he told the news agency KINS.

In the first two months of 2023, at least 2.5 lakh tourists visited Kashmir. This includes those who visited by road. In 2022, 1.70 lakh tourists visited Kashmir in January and February.

Over 1.88 crore tourists visited J&K in 2022. Those included religious pilgrims also. Of this, 26.73 lakh tourists visited Kashmir alone, which was the highest number in the last three decades according to government figures.

Tourism is considered the backbone of Kashmir's economy after the horticulture sector. Each year, Kashmir generates revenue of around Rs 8,000 crore from the tourism sector. While the rush is expected to increase this year as Asia’s largest Tuilp Garden 'Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden' was thrown open on March 19. At least 15 lakh tulips with 68 varieties will attract visitors this year.

A senior official of the Tourism Department said more and more tourists are visiting Kashmir this year. “I can’t tell exactly how many tourists we expect this year. But if all goes well, then tourist footfall during 2023 will cross the 2022 figures,” he said.

He said the department has already raised the issue of rising airfare with the Centre.

Mohammad Shafi, a hotelier, said there is 100 percent booking of hotels at Gulmarg and Pahalgam. “This year, we are witnessing a huge arrival of tourists compared to the last year. We hope over 35 lakh tourists visit Kashmir this year but the government has to curb rising airfare,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Valley's apex business chamber – Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has sought intervention from the Union Home Ministry and Civil Aviation Ministry and urged them to step in to curb the exorbitant airfares.

According to KCCI President Javid Tenga, the increase in airfare has had a negative impact on the tourism season as well as the travel plans of elderly, ill, and young people as well as business people.

“The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture having taken stock of the situation emerging out of irrational mechanisms adopted by some operators in league with some airlines manipulating the airfare, the KCC&I hails this Department-related Committee for making the appropriate recommendations and observations,” he said.

“Now, accordingly we would urge and earnestly request the Minister of Home Affairs and the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Government of India, and also the Director General, Civil Aviation to ensure implementation of the recommendation made by this Department-related Committee in letter and spirit without fail and any further delay,” he said.

PAMPORE — The Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir on Tuesday organized a saffron festival in Karewas of Pampore.

The festival was organized in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, SKUAST Kashmir, Cooperative Societies, and local saffron growers.

Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K Pole said Kashmiri saffron is popular all over the world and it is needed to work together to maintain its reputation. He said the government has introduced several measures to boost saffron production through technological interventions, technological support, and irrigation facilities.

The Divisional Commissioner said that farmers need to take benefit of the technological interventions and make use of the better irrigation facilities and GI certification for better returns. He also exhorted the farmers that they should not use the Karewa land for any other purpose as this land produces the world's best saffron.

He said that the tourists have added to the economy of the locals as the tourists are experiencing the landscape of the saffron fields. He further said that GI tagging has opened new windows for Kashmir saffron and the government is endeavoring to ensure that all the globally accepted quality parameters are met during the cultivation and post-harvest management of the saffron.

Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary, while speaking on the occasion, said that the government is committed to bringing the saffron Karewas on the tourism map of Kashmir and said that wetlands and saffron are an interconnected economy to the local populace of Pampore.

Mr Baseer appreciated the Tourism Department for organizing the festival, thereby creating an interface between tourists and the local saffron growers. He thanked all the stakeholders for their support and cooperation and said that more such festivals will be organized on a larger scale. He said that the participation of locals is a sign of better things to come.

Director Tourism Kashmir, Fazl-ul-Haseeb also spoke on the occasion and said that more festivals will be organized to involve more and more locals in the promotion of saffron, so that the concerned growers' economic interests are secured at all levels. He said the aim of holding a festival at Pampore was to celebrate the uniqueness of the place and the pride saffron cultivation has brought to Kashmir.

Director, Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, saffron growers, representatives of various travel and trade bodies, and other stakeholders were present on the occasion.

Earlier, the festival witnessed many cultural events and activities, folk dances, and music performances. A skit by a young artist on Nasha Mukta Abhiyan won accolades from the audience.

SRINAGAR — The arrival of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir has broken all old records as more than 1.62 crore tourists have visited different places in the UT since January this year.

A top official told the news agency KNS that this has happened only due to the successful campaigns of the J&K Government to attract maximum tourists towards the region. "The tourists are flocking back to Kashmir in unprecedented numbers, three years after the government revoked the region's special status," he said.

He also said that since January 2022, 1.62 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir, which is the highest in 75 years of Independence. Due to the increased inflow of tourists, the official said that the government gave go-ahead for homestays and tented accommodations at different tourist destinations in the Valley to overcome the shortage of space.

"With combined efforts of government and tourism stakeholders, the industry has finally witnessed some record-breaking arrivals which in turn helped the economy as well as the employment for the youth of Kashmir," he added.

He further said that the tourism industry is hoping that the numbers will go further up as the winter is around the corner while the government is introducing some new ski resorts in the Valley as well.

BUDGAM — A new travel destination Doodhpathri in Budgam district has been introduced in the Kashmir valley from efforts by the Tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.

Doodhpathri is located in the central Budgam district at an altitude of 8,957 feet above sea level. It is located at a distance of 42 km from Srinagar and 22 km from the district headquarters, Budgam.

Many good places haven't been explored in the Kashmir valley as a result of which Doodhpathri (valley of milk) has been introduced as a travel destination.

According to a local, Manzoor Ahmed, the famous Kashmiri sage Sheikh Alam Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani prayed here and once when he was searching for water in the fields to pray, he hit his stick on the ground and milk came out. It was said that the milk turned into water that started flowing in this vast field of grass and hence the name of the place was read as Doodhpathhri. The water flowing in the Doodhpathri plains is still flowing there and looks milky from a distance. This water is very cold throughout the year.

The green grass on the vast plains and the silver streams flowing over the huge boulders add to its beauty.
The whole area is a landscape of grassy slopes with a diversity of colourful flowers. The famous Tusamidan is situated to the west of Doodhpathri.

Dudhpathri is geographically located in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, covered with snow-capped mountains and grasslands of pine and deodar. Natural grasslands, which are covered with snow in winter, allow for the growth of wildflowers such as daisies and buttercups during the spring and summer.

Doodhpathri has no permanent settlement and is inaccessible in winter due to heavy snowfall. In summer, shepherds from the plains of Budgam district bring cattle for grazing and stay seasonally at Doodhpathri for about six months.

Recently, a festival was organized here by the government during which hundreds of tourists visited this tourist spot. The people living in the surrounding areas expressed their gratitude for the introduction of this place on the map and said that it has now provided them with employment opportunities.

A foreign tourist named Manoj Kumar described Doodhpathri as 'Mini Kashmir' and said, "There are many tourist spots in Kashmir which need to be brought on the tourist map and was glad to see Doodhpathri being developed as one."

SRINAGAR — Union Minister for Tourism, G K Reddy on Monday said that 1.05 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir in the first six months of the year 2022.

Replying to a query by Mala Roy in Lok Sabha, the Union Minister, as per the news agency Kashmir News Observer, said that the tourism sector in J&K is one of the core sectors of the economy.

“As a result of the initiatives taken by the J&K Government in private as well as Government sectors, there has been a significant hike in the tourist footfall despite of the Covid challenges,” he said.

In the year 2020, he said, the tourist footfall was 41267, which has increased to 1.05 crores during the first six months (January-June) of the calendar year 2022.

He said that J&K has seen tourist flow in all the seasons during the period and that too high-end tourists, who have a good experience of quality services.

He added that this high influx of tourists has, directly and indirectly, benefited the local populace including the people living in far-flung areas of the UT.

SRINAGAR — In order to facilitate more and more people to join the tourism trade, the Government has notified procedural guidelines for the registration of homestays and paying guest houses in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Orders to this effect were issued by Secretary, Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez here.

The aim of notifying these guidelines is to create a hassle-free environment for those wishing to register their properties as homestays/paying guest houses by simplifying many of the procedural requirements and minimising the formalities.

An added benefit of introducing the concept of homestays is to promote local culture, cuisine, handicrafts etc. thereby enhancing the employment opportunities for local inhabitants. Homestays/paying guest houses would also be encouraged at the 75 new tourist destinations recently put on the tourist map by the Department. This is expected to increase the tourist footfall by a considerable measure.

It may be recalled that the Department of Tourism in recent times has taken several path-breaking steps to upgrade tourism services, extend the touring seasons, adding more destinations to the tourist map, making J&K a round-the-year destination, golf promotion, a rigorous promotional campaign, thrust on the adventure and heritage tourism, to name a few.

As a sequel of these efforts, J&K has witnessed a huge tourist footfall over the past one and a half years and many experts say the tourist footfall of the past six months has been the highest in the last 15 years.