SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Tourism and Culture Secretary, Abid Rasheed Shah on Thursday said this year’s winter will be a “big success” as places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam have already geared up for upcoming festivals like Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
He said efforts are on to promote offbeat destinations in the current winter to create a dignified livelihood for the local population.
Talking to reporters at the SPS Museum in Srinagar, the Tourism and Culture Secretary said, tourist destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam have already been sold out for upcoming Christmas and New Year festivals and it is expected that this winter will be a grand success for tourism sector of Jammu and Kashmir .
He said, “I’m very much confident the way we see tourist arrivals both domestic and foreigners in Jammu & Kashmir, this winter will be a grand success”. Secretary Tourism added several destinations have already been sold out which is a positive indication for the tourism sector of Jammu & Kashmir. “Warm hospitality and favorable atmosphere are in place as stakeholders of tourism have played a key role in revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. He said that this year administration has prioritized and taken up new offbeat destinations with an aim to promote livelihood of local population. He said that there is an element of hope, development in the tourism sector of Jammu & Kashmir. We see that trekking of foreign tourists is in the revival mode. Border tourism has also been promoted. Apart from traditional destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam, the administration is also focusing on other places like Sonamarg, Bhaderwah, Sanasar.
