Skyrocketing airfares

For the last couple of years, Kashmir has been witnessing a massive influx of tourists from different parts of the country, giving a boom to the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir, which simultaneously provided livelihood opportunities to the people associated with the sector. The rush has been increasing with each passing year as the hectic efforts are being made to attract more visitors to the picturesque destinations of the Valley. However, the skyrocketing prices of the airfares to the Valley is all set to cast shadow on the tourism sector as the people aspiring to visit the Valley amidst the attractive snowfall, would be deprived from enjoying the picturesque places and may push them to choose the other locations for enjoying their holidays. The airfares to the Valley are often witnessing a rise especially during the peak tourism season, which affects the influx to Kashmir as well. The situation is also being witnessed at a time when the major roads are being closed as precautionary measures in wake of the slippery conditions triggered by the snowfall. However, such is the situation at present that the airfares to the Valley are more expensive than the flights to Dubai and other places. Nonetheless, the situation must not last for a long as it is the time when the people at the helm of affairs need to take adequate measures and ensure that the airfares are reduced to make sure that the flow of tourists to the Valley is not affected. At this juncture there is a dire need to encourage the Airlines to offer air tickets at the subsidized rates or special packages for Kashmir-bound travelers, so that the flow of tourists to the Valley is not diverted to other locations and bring the number further up this year.