After summer setback, Kashmir tourism pins hopes on winter

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 14

After going through one of its worst phases this summer, the tourism sector in Valley is now in a wait and watch mode, hoping for the revival of tourism in winter.

Just when the tourism season had started to peak earlier this year, militant commander Burhan Wani’s killing on July 8 sparked widespread protests, pushing the sector into dire straits.

Even though the situation has not completely improved, heavy movement of private vehicles and resumption of business activities in the evening hours has brought a semblance of normalcy in the Valley. The peak summer months were lost to the unrest but the stakeholders are now hoping for resumption of tourism in winter.

“We are in a wait and watch mode. Several winter tourism activities of the department are in the pipeline but we are keeping an eye on the situation,” said Deputy Director Tourism, Kashmir, Peerzada Zahoor.

He said these days only a trickle of tourists, mostly foreigners, was visiting the Valley and the tourism sector was still suffering heavy losses amid the ongoing unrest that entered its 129th day today.

While some stakeholders are skeptical about the revival of tourism in winter, others are still hopeful.

“I understand many feel that the summer unrest will have a bearing on the tourism season in winter as the situation is still not completely normal. However, most of the winter tourism activities are held at the ski resort of Gulmarg and we are hopeful of getting tourists,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a travel agent.

The government usually hosts a series of winter sports and cultural programmes at Gulmarg to woo tourists.

A Tourist Department official said the government had participated in several recent travel marts held in various parts of the country, including in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. He said despite the ongoing unrest, they got a good response from people who assured them that they would visit Kashmir as soon as peace prevailed in the area.

As per the preliminary government estimates, tourism has suffered Rs 3,000-crore loss this summer.