Pahalgam, Jan 01: For the first time, the famous tourist spot of Kashmir, Pahalgam emerged as the winter tourist destination in Kashmir.
The good flow of the tourists in winter in Pahalgam for the very first time has brought happiness among locals as well as people associated with the tourism sector.
Hoteliers from the Pahalgam said that this is the first time that they are witnessing such a surge inflow of tourists in Pahalgam in winters.
They said that usually tourists flow remains good in the summer season in Pahalgam and they used to sit idle in winters but this year there is rush which has brought happiness among the people associated with tourism in Pahalgam.
“Our hotels are fully occupied like summer as tourists from different areas of India are arriving here on eve of the New Year besides other events are organised by the Department of Tourism,” they said.
Tourism officials also maintain that hotels in Pahalgam are jam-packed for the last several days. They said that it is difficult to get a room in Pahalgam as all rooms have been booked already as just A and B class hotels would remain operational there in winter otherwise.
They said that the department is organizing events to welcome tourists from all over India and pass a message that Kashmir is always ready to host the guests.
Earlier, events were being organized in Gulmarg only – as much of the activities in winters were remaining confined to Gulmarg only– but now all other major destinations have been kept open which has increased the tourist flow, they added.
An official of the tourism department said that in the year 2021 around 5 lakh tourists have visited Pahalgam which includes just a few hundred foreign tourists, 2.5 lakh domestic tourists and 2.4 lakh local tourists.
Secretary Tourism Sarmadh Hafeez, while talking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the government is working to explore every place wherever there is potential.
He said that the Skii lift scheme is also there in Baisaran which would be made functional as well, once there is enough snow in the area besides that more and more projects are coming in the area to lure more tourists towards Pahalgam—(KNO)
