DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA, 16 JULY 2023:
The Jammu and Kashmir Toursim is all set to create a new record this year and both domestic and foreign tourists are flocking in to the union territory since the past few months, informed Dr. Ahsan Chisti, Deputy Director of Kashmir Tourism said at a panel discussion at TTF Kolkata today.
AS the international borders were closed due to covid -19 pandemic outbreak and also international flights remained cancelled the inland tourism in the country peaked up and about 60 lakhs people visited Jammu and kashmir in the year 2021, he said.
“ But the figures of J&K shoot upto 1.88 crores footfall in 2022 with Kashmir recording 22 lakhs, the highest ever since the independence of the country,”added Dr. Ahsan Chisti.
The entire panel discussion with quaestion and answer session was conducted by Dr. Ahsan Ul Haq, officer in charge of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism office in Kolkata. Already the LG of the UT, Manoj Sinha has said that this year over two crores footfalls are expected.
Dr. Javed ur Rehman, assistant director of Tourism in Gulmarg said that the temple city of Jammu draws lots of visitors and is famous for religious tourism. Places like Gupt Ganga and Chichi Mata Samba Temple in Darui is a must visit for pilgrims of Vaisno Devi Yatra as it will not be completed without a visit into this hindu temple.
Gulmarg has always been a famous toursit destination and the Gondola rides are star attractions, he added.
Dr. Desraj Bhagat, CEO of Bani Basholi Development Authority said that the area is the newest offbeat tourism destinations in the union territory. “ J&K is famous for hospitality and we welcome you with open heart and open arms to boost tourism,”he added.
Mohamed Arif Lone, assistant director of Kashmir Tourism said that if there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here. There are plethora of tourst destinations like religious, film, adventure. People like famous Indo- Persian poet, Amir Khushru and Emperor Jehangir fell in love with the beauty of Kashmir, he said.
Tourism in Kashmir provides 10 percent to the nation’s GDP and 2 million people are employed by this industry. “ But the beauty is futile without your presence . J& K has an indefinable beauty, even poets failed to described in their words fully,”he said.
Mr. Manav Soni, Chairman of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), eastern India chapter said that indeed if there is a paradise on earth it is Kashmir. Snow clapped mountains, lakes, housebaots, gondolas everything are its star attractions. “ But there is another thing the Gastronomical tour of Kashmir. The Kashmiri food is very delicious and has been one of the major reasons behind the huge success of the homestays in the UT these days. I am born in Jammu and settled in Kolkata and feels lucky everytime I visit the UT and is fond of mouth watering Kashmiri cuisines,”’he concluded.
The J&K Tourism Board has presented an audio visual presentation about the tourism destinations of the union territory.
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