Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: Buoyed by the arrival of around two and half million tourists to Kashmir valley during 2011 and 2012, the tourism players are expecting arrival of 25 lakh tourists to Kashmir in 2013.
However, for achieving this target the tourism players want support from the Government in many forms. The successful holding of the national level seminar on sustainable tourism held here on November 20 has also given them the hope that the lost glory can be restored when it comes to reviving the real tourism in Kashmir.
Talking to Excelsior, Showkat Chowdhary, president, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) said that the tourism itinerary has to be expanded beyond the venues specified for the tourists at present. He said that the tourism season should also be extended so that tourists come to enjoy Kashmir according to their own schedule.
“Over the years we have been selling places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg as the ultimate tourist destinations of the Kashmir valley. Time has come when we should move beyond and make other tourist destinations available for the tourists,” he said.
Showkat said that unexplored tourist destinations like Manasbal, Doodhpathri, Kokernag, Achabal and Yusmarg should be brought on tourism map. He pitched for providing more accommodation to the tourists so that they enjoy world class facilities during their stay in Kashmir.
“There is a need of setting up 5-star hotels in the Kashmir as we are lacking them in the present day context. As on date there is no scope for providing accommodation to high-end tourists. This needs to be given a serious thought by the government as it would help us a lot in attracting world class tourists to this place,” said Showkat.
Rauf Tramboo, President, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) said that around 1.50 lakh tourists visited Kashmir during autumn this year. He said that Kashmir is the only place in the world which can be sold as a perfect tourist destination for all the seasons in a year.
Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, President, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) said that operation of international flights from Srinagar airport would go a long way in attracting foreign tourists.
“It is important that infrastructure status is given to hotel and restaurant industry as it plays a vital role in the overall promotion of tourism. Single window clearance of all permissions/sanctions, tax-holidays and rationalization of existing taxes should be taken up by the Government,” said Faiz.
He demanded that ‘Clean India Project’ launched by the Union Tourism Ministry for round the clock garbage clearance, providing clean drinking water facilities, maintenance of parking lots and toilets and installing proper signage at heritage sites should also be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. He said a tourism master plan should be formulated so that tourism infrastructure comes up in identified areas.
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