Jahangeer Ganaie
Pahalgam, Dec 28: Lakhs of people, excluding Amarnath yatris, visited Pahalgam this year, authorities said on Thursday, adding that all efforts are being made to keep the famous tourist destination vibrant during winter too.
Chief Executive Officer, Pahalgam Development Authority, Tariq Hussain Naik said that as the infrastructure has been enhanced, there is a good flow of tourists at Pahalgam in winters as well.
Naik added, “All stakeholders did good business this year as there was a huge flow of tourists and due to efforts of every department, Pahalgam is witnessing good flow of tourists in winters and every effort is being made to keep this destination vibrant round the year.”
“Pahalgam has uninterrupted power supply, water supply and hoteliers have updated heating facilities that have helped to keep the destination alive,” he said.
“A week-long programme ‘Vibrant Pahalgam” on the eve of the new year is going on under which different programmes are being held and the aim is to attract more and more tourists besides what steps needed to be taken for sustainable tourism,” he said.
The officer said that adventure activities including skiing and snowboarding will be conducted to attract more and more tourists.
He said that as infrastructure has been enhanced, Pahalgam now can host thousands of tourists in winters as well, adding that a proper mechanism has been put in place to sanitize both Urban and Rural areas of Pahalgam besides that the PDA carries out frequent sanitation drives.
He requested the tourists to behave responsibly and avoid using polythene to keep Pahalgam neat and clean.
