Make winter tourism a grand success

The government is expecting a grand success of winter tourism in the Valley as a series of measures and steps have been taken to give a further boost to the sector in every season here. While Jammu & Kashmir has once again recorded the highest-ever footfall of tourists this year, the hopes of further boom in the sector grew among the people, especially those associated and linked with the tourism sector. The reports quoting the top official in the administration has mentioned that the administration is very sure about the grand success of winter tourism. The number of destinations for tourists in winters has been increased from just one—Gulmarg to several, which include Sonamarg, Doodhpathri, Gurez and others. These places were usually remaining closed for the visitors during the period of harsh winter conditions as a precautionary measure due to the slippery conditions of the road triggered by the snowfall. While the number of destinations has increased, there is every possibility that the number of visitors will also increase this winter while the government has itself claimed that the hotels ahead of the New Year and Christmas Eve are already jam-packed in Pahalgam and Gulmarg areas of Kashmir. The tourism sector is expected to witness a further boom in Jammu and Kashmir once the train services are started here as the travel time will be reduced, which will attract the tourists to visit the Union territory in the coming future. However, at this juncture, the government needs to make elaborate arrangements to ensure that the visitors will not face any hardships. There is a need to ensure all the basic facilities especially the adequate electricity during the winter season so that the visitors will not be pushed to suffer in the bone-chilling cold.