Naveed ul Haq
Budgam, Mar 5: Yousmarg, a picturesque tourist destination in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, is in urgent need of government support to revive tourism and restore the livelihoods of locals dependent on the sector.
Locals said that although Yousmarg was among several tourist destinations which were recently reopened for the general public after remaining closed for several months but the flow of tourists remains significantly lower than expected.
Riyaz Ahmad, a resident of Nagbal, said that many families in the area rely heavily on tourism-related activities such as pony services, local dhabas, shops, and cab operations.
“Several families are dependent on tourism at Yousmarg for their livelihood. However, we are worried as the tourist flow is far less compared to other destinations,” he said.
He added that while the government has actively promoted other tourist spots such as Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, and Sonamarg, Yousmarg has not received similar attention.
“Tourists frequently visit other destinations, but Yousmarg hardly sees the same footfall,” he said.
Another local, Shabir Ahmad, said residents had hoped that reopening the destination would bring tourists back and help them earn their livelihood.
“We were hopeful that once the destination reopened, tourists would return in large numbers. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, and the number of visitors remains very low,” he said.
The locals have urged the government to promote Yousmarg and improve infrastructure at the destination to attract more tourists.
“We request the government to promote Yousmarg and work on its infrastructure and development so that it becomes a major tourist attraction. This will also help locals earn a sustainable livelihood,” he said.
They also appealed to cab drivers and tour and travel agencies to include Yousmarg in their travel itineraries so that more visitors become aware of the scenic destination and visit the area.
