Int’l flights: Tourism players pleased

As the Valley is set to receive the maiden international flight on October 23, the tourism players have braced up and are expecting a huge footfall of tourists in Kashmir. Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport also known as Srinagar Airport or Budgam Airbase is a military airbase that serves Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. It is owned by the Indian Air Force and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) operates a civil enclave at the airport. It was designated as an international airport in 2005. However, it is for the first time that an international flight will land directly in the Valley, thus bringing a smile on the faces of tourism players. According to the officials, more international flights will land directly in Srinagar in the coming weeks and also they are expecting the international tourists in the Valley as well. The tourism players, who have suffered a huge loss since the year 2019, are expecting a huge footfall of the tourists with the arrival of international flights while many of the hoteliers have started preparations with regard to receiving the international tourists, which according to them will boost the tourism sector in the Union Territory. The government in this regard should take further steps to ensure that the arrival of international flights continues here at Srinagar airport to help the economy of J&K to boost. The administration should take more friendly steps so that the people affiliated with the sector could heave a sigh of relief.