Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Nov 11: The flow of tourists has increased at the picturesque destination of Sonamarg with the officials revealing that a total of 7.60 lakh tourists have visited the spot in the last ten months from January 01 to October 31.
Sonamarg, known as ‘the meadow of gold’ and with snow clad mountains sharing a spectacular blue sky, situated at an altitude of 2730 m, is a mesmerizing hill station in district Ganderbal.
Officials said that there has been a surge in tourist flow since January 01, 2024 to the end of October, saying that a total of 7.60 lakh tourists have visited the place.
Among them, 7 lakh were domestic visitors while 14,000 were foreigners and 41,000 were locals.
Sonamarg has become a premier attraction for both local and non-local travellers in Kashmir, they said.
The local shopkeepers are delighted with the increase in tourist activity, expressing gratitude to the tourism department for its promotional efforts.
They note that the influx of tourists has surpassed previous records, indicating that the region is becoming increasingly appealing to travellers.
People associated with the tourism sector enthusiastically welcome the tourists, seeing it as a revival of their businesses.
They urge the tourism department to continue promoting Sonamarg to attract even more visitors. The tourists are visibly happy, contributing to a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere in the region, they said.
Advocate Ajay Kumar, said, “I have been visiting Kashmir for the last three years, and I can confidently say it is a place of unparalleled peace and beauty. Sonamarg, in particular, is breath-taking. I encourage everyone to come, experience its charm, and enjoy the serenity of Kashmir.”
CEO, Sonamarg Development Authority, Gh Mohd Bhat said that SDA has played a pivotal role this year by organizing a range of winter sports activities, significantly contributing to the economic and tourism revival in Sonamarg.
“Sonamarg Development Authority has been instrumental in reviving both the economy and tourism this year, through a series of winter sports events. As the snow-covered beauty of Sonamarg continues to captivate visitors, we remain hopeful that it will sustain the livelihoods of those who depend on this thriving industry,” he said.
