Jahangeer Ganaie
Anantnag, Feb 16: The scenic spots in the Kokernag area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district witnessed an increase in tourist arrivals during January and February this year, officials said.
According to reports, the delayed snowfall in prominent tourist destinations like Sinthan Top in Kokernag attracted a considerable number of tourists.
In January 2022, only 440 visitors explored Sinthan Top and Dakusm, whereas in January 2023, the number rose to 1,364. However, this year, the influx surged significantly to 14,877 tourists in January alone.
Of these visitors, 13,328 were domestic tourists, 1,519 were locals, and 30 were foreign tourists.
The increasing tourist activity at Daksum and Sinthantop was due to the presence of snow, which was absent in other popular tourist spots.
Due to the absence of snowfall in December and January in Kokernag’s main town, there was no increase in tourist flow in that area, officials said.
In January 2023, 7,310 tourists visited Kokernag, while in January 2024, the number decreased to 6,514. Overall, in 2022, 150,713 tourists explored Kokernag, compared to 146,830 visitors in 2023.
Approximately 800,000 tourists visited Daksum and Sinthan Top in 2023 alone. As of this month, around 3,000 tourists have visited Kokernag, with approximately 1,000 visitors exploring Daksum and Sinthantop.
While tourist footfall at Daksum and Sinthan Top has begun to decline with the waning of snowfall, residents said the area has untapped tourism potential. They mentioned Breng hamlet, which they said could contribute to revenue generation and employment opportunities if developed properly.
Although the government has initiated some measures for the development of tourist spots in the area, locals say more efforts are needed.
Officials said all tourist destinations are undergoing development, with necessary arrangements in place to facilitate tourists. They said they are anticipating a further increase in tourism flow in the region.
