Valley’s tourism sector pins hope on winter

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 16

Kashmir’s tourism industry, which faced a tepid response from holidaymakers during the summer, is now pinning hope on the winter for revival of the sector.

The state government was working to make Gulmarg in north Kashmir act as the “main attraction” for tourists during the winter months, a senior official said.

The events being planned at Gulmarg include ski and snowboarding championships, ice-staking camps and a snow festival, said Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Mahmood Ahmad Shah.

“We are also focusing on autumn but we have no other option other than promoting tourism during the winter in a big way,” Shah told The Tribune. He said the department was hopeful that the winter would bring domestic as well as foreign tourists to the region.

The winter season in Kashmir will begin next month and is likely to last four months. The core period is December and January when Gulmarg receives heavy snowfall, turning it into a perfect destination for skiing enthusiasts and winter sports.

The tourism industry has gone through a rough patch since July last year when the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani triggered a wave of protests. Even as the agitation subsided by December last year, its aftereffects continued into the next year as intermittent protests and militant attacks continued.

Shah said the past year, during which hotels were operating at minimal occupancy, had “not been so encouraging”. “It had not been so good,” he said.

The Tourism Department, which had organised a concert by singer-musician Adnan Sami earlier this month with a hope to “boost the tourism”, is now busy in preparations to turn Gulmarg into a warm host for tourists during the winter months. It is hoping that snow will end the stagnant phase witnessed by the industry during the summer.

Shah, who held a meeting on Saturday to review the preparations for winter sports activities scheduled at Gulmarg, has directed immediate clearance of the Gulmarg road during snowfall, smooth operations of ski lifts and snow beating machines and maintenance of slopes.

“Tourists visit Gulmarg in good numbers as soon as it snows here and for that we need to be prepared. We will organise all snow sports activities which is essential for the promotion of Gulmarg as a winter sports destination,” Shah said.

Focusing on Gulmarg 

• The J&K Government is hoping that Gulmarg will be the "main attraction" for tourists during the winter months 
• The events being planned at Gulmarg include ski and snowboarding championships, ice-staking camps and a snow festival
• • We are focusing on autumn but we have no other option but to promote tourism during the winter in a big way. The department is hopeful that the winter would bring domestic as well as foreign tourists to the region. — Mahmood Ahmad Shah, director, tourism, Kashmir