Touristed rush increased in kashmir

With Lok Sabha elections over, the rush of tourists to valley is likely to increase in the days to come. Muhammad Azeem Tumaan, president Houseboat Owners Association (HOA), said presently 300 tourists arrive on an average daily in Kashmir. "We are expecting increase in their arrival since the polls are over. The increase is likely to strengthen the financial condition of the people associated with tourism," he stated. Tumaan said the peak tourist season in Kashmir starts in May and ends in July. During the season the visitors mostly from Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat and northern states pay visits to Kashmir with their families. "This year we were expecting the season to begin much earlier in April because of the tulip garden which has remained a major attraction for tourists during last few years. But the negative campaign by some electronic media channels regarding the infiltration of Taliban into Kashmir created a fear psychosis in the minds of outsiders, who were intending to visit Kashmir. Subsequently, the tourism sector could not get the much required boost," HOA president said. He added that while the media reports about Taliban arrival proved false later, the negative campaign was countered at various levels and the faith of tourists was restored to some extent. But the Lok Sabha elections discouraged the visitors from coming here in large number. "There is an impression outside that election time is not safe for travel to Kashmir. Most people preferred not to visit the Valley during that period. So the number of tourist arrival could not cross 300 per day while it should have been in thousands at this time," he said. Deepika, a tourist was from Mumbai, along with her family has arrived here five days back. Busy in shopping at Residency Road here, she said they visited Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Mughal Gardens, and Sonamarg. "Now we are planning to leave. Kashmir is truly the paradise on earth. We had not imagined that Kashmir is so beautiful. During our stay here we did not face any problem and people here are very hospitable," she said.

The Mumbaikar said on her return to her home city, she would tell her friends to pay a visit to Kashmir. Another tourist, Sheetal, said visiting Kashmir is financially cheap. "In our city, some people go to European countries during vacations and they have to pay through their nose. However, visiting Kashmir does not cost that much,".

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