news details |
|
|
| National Ski Championship at Gulmarg in Feb | | Tourist arrival picks up in Gulmarg; Governor visits Affarvat, HAWS | | GULMARG, JAN 17
Governor Lt. General (Retd) S.K. Sinha today expressed happiness over increase in tourist influx from last December to snow-clad Gulmarg and hoped that this trend will pick up in months to come with upgraded facilities for both tourists as well as skiers.
The Governor visited Gulmarg this morning and interacted with foreign tourists from Canada, Russia, Australia and Newzealand besides domestic tourists from various parts of the country. He noted with satisfaction the appreciable increase in the arrival of foreign tourists and marginal hike in the number of domestic tourists compared to last year during the winter period.
AfterJune-July last year, the tourist arrivals had dropped sharply due to terrorist strikes but now there are discernible signs of improvement and the tourist influx is picking up.
Intercating with tourists, General Sinha said that Kashmir is ideal for nature lovers and winter sports and remarked that such is the scenic splendour and grandeur of the valley that one finds words inadequate to describe the scenic beaut. The tourists were appreciative of the arrangements and facilities made available to them.
Director Tourism, Kashmir Mr Farooq Ahmed informed the Governor that National Ski Championship is being hosted at Gulmarg in Febrary this year while 19 skiing courses have been planned for this winter. He said that six road shows are being organised all over the country to attract tourists. The tourism department is also planning to hold six golf championships in Kashmir this year, he added.
General Sinha took a Gandola ride up to the top of the second phase of the project at Affarwat, at a height of over 13,000 feet and met young skiers, both foreign and Indian, undergoing a course on the world’s magnificent slopes, one of the best in the world. He was much impressed by their enthusiasm and performance. He visited the young skiers from the State and other parts of the country undergoing a skiing course.
The Governor also visited the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) and interacted with 250 army personnel, some from foreign armies, undergoing snow warfare course.
Principal Secretary to Governor, Dr Arun Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Gandola Project and senior district officers of Baramulla were present during the tour of the Governor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
