Journey to progress

By: Farooq Ganderbali

Two things have acted as a blessing in disguise for tourism sector of Kashmir. One is the extreme have wave in rest of India and second is the global recession. Even as these two things have made life of people pretty tough in other parts of India, Kashmiris are feeling otherwise.

During the last few weeks the temperature has been soaring in rest of India. The extreme heat wave has caused the temperatures to soar well above 43 degrees and sometimes nearing even 50. On the other hand Kashmir is basking in a cool temperature with mercury hardly hitting 30. At some hill stations it is shivering cold during nights.

This temperature difference is acting as a magnet for tourists to come to Kashmir. Thousands of tourists are coming to Kashmir to enjoy its beautiful landscape and weather. Kashmir is proving to be a great escape from the scorching heat elsewhere.

After the successful end of parliamentary elections, the tourist rush has increased manifold. The democratic government in place and improved security situation are doubling as incentives for the people who wish to visit this paradise on earth. Traders associated with tourism sector believe that the coming months will witness house full scenario for Kashmir.

The year started with a positive note in Kashmir. There was a record arrival of winter tourists to Kashmir. Thousands of tourists, both local and foreigners, enjoyed the skiing at breathtaking slopes of Gulmarg.

The winter season was followed by successful Tulip festival. One of the Asias largest Tulip gardens on the banks of Dal Lake mesmerized those who had a chance to visit it. Now the government has plans to make the garden as a year round place of activity with the planting of newer and exotic varieties of flowers. It will surely go a long way in increasing the appeal of Kashmir.

Pilgrim tourism too is on all time high. Millions have visited Mata Vasihnodevi shrine and half a million is expected to pay their obeisance at Amarnath Shrine in Kashmir.

Kashmir has another attraction of being the cheapest tourist destinations available of its kind in the world. Even as the world is reeling under economic slowdown, Kashmir is yet to be affected in that manner. The economic slowdown forced people to cut on their expenses as their purchasing power dwindled. This led people to curtail their holidays or shift from expensive holiday spots to a cheaper versions.

In almost entire India, hoteliers have downed their rates so as to attract tourists, who are otherwise staying away. Kashmir on the other hand need not to do that as the rates are already at the rock bottom. As thousands of foreign bound tourists cancelled their trips due to recession, they found a matching version of their destinations in Kashmir. The scenario has led to the influx of high spending tourists in the state, who otherwise used to hit foreign shores every year. Businessmen, film stars, socialites and other big wigs are coming to Kashmir to spend their holidays in this dream land.

Billions of rupees have been pumped into the local economy due to the increase in high spending tourist arrival. The state government too has moved forward to further help the local traders. They have provided big relief to local hoteliers by reducing or fully exempting them from the tax net.

Film crews from Hollywood, Bollywood as well as regional film units of India have started inquiring about the shooting of their films in Kashmir. One bollywood film about Kashmir footballer has already hit the international film festivals with rave reviews with more in the pipeline.

The state government has also speeded up the road construction to various tourist destinations to provide a better connectivity. The international Airport has already been inaugurated with direct flights from Dubai to Srinagar fully operational. In the days to come foreign arrival by Srinagar international airport is bound to increase.

The election of young and dynamic Omar Abdullah as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir has a visible effect on the overall psyche. It has given a new confidence in the people and the image of state has been projected in a healthy light all over the world. With his reign just started, one expects that Kashmirs journey to development and progress has just begun.