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| LESS TOURIST ARRIVALS IN KASHMIR CAUSE WORRIES | | |
Jammu, June 09
Sudden increase in the level of militant violence in Kashmir valley in the recent days may have been keeping tourists away from Kashmir but there
is no dearth of pilgrim or tourist traffic to the famous shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi located in Trikuta hills and the hill resort of Patnitop, picturesque valley of Bhaderwah and Kishtwar, Mantalai, Sudh Mahadev this season. On one hand lesser tourist arrivals in Kashmir has caused worries in the tourism trade industry and on the other huge pilgrim traffic in the Jammu region has given hopes to tourism and trade industry for a good summer season ahead compared to previous years.With the start of the Amarnath yatra from June 30 the situation is expected to improve as large number of tourists are also diverted to Kashmir valley after performing pilgrmage. Significantly, efforts made by the tourism department in connecting various tourist circuits is showing positive results onthe ground as several other prominent local places in and around Jammu region are attracting tourist population from within and outside the state As per rough estimates the tourism traffic to Mata Vaishno devi shrine is already touching 25-30,000 per day and on weekends the figure go up making it difficult for concerned authorities in the region to control the rush. According to a senior
official of the tourism department, after paying obeisance at Mata Vaishno devi shrine fairly large percentage of them visit other nearby tourist places in the circuit to escape the blistering heat in the plains.We have introduced separate packages keeping in view their convenience and budget. A prominent hotelier in Katra town said that we are hosting good number of pilgrims this season as the place is witnessing huge pilgrim arrivals.He confirmed the pilgrim traffic is improving with each passing day. The base camp witnesses heavy rush during weekend as pilgrims from Punjab,Himanchal and National capital flock the place to cool off their heels in the hills. “We are coping up with the rush in the absence of infrastructure support provided by the govt”, the hotelier said referring to frequent power cuts and shortage of drinking water supply to the famous base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.Meanwhile despite making elaborate arrangements to attract more tourist population in Kashmir the tourism departments report card is painting a dismal picture this year as people fear going there despite assurances of fool proof security arrangements, a dept official said.
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