Sayeed hopes more tourists visit Kashmir this year

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Monday hoped that the Valley would see a record number of tourists this year.

Throwing open the Tulip Garden in summer capital Srinagar on Monday, Sayeed said the hype given to the recent flood threat in the Valley by the national media has adversely affected tourist arrivals here.

"There was no flood in the Valley. Yes, there was water-logging at places. We had unprecedented floods last year and the people had been frightened.

"Response by our government was quick and prompt. People started shifting goods from their places. We did not stop them because there had been no warning during last year's floods and tremendous damages were suffered by people."

The chief minister hoped the Valley would have record number of tourists this year.

"We are making efforts to ensure that tourists visit Kashmir in record numbers this year. This place is as peaceful as any other place in the country. Tourists must come here to see the beauty of the place and enjoy the hospitality of the people here."

Spread over 30 hectares by the banks of the Dal Lake and in the foothills of Zabarwan mountains, Srinagar's Tulip Garden is Asia's largest tulip garden.

"We have 53 varieties of flowers this time in the garden and more than one million tulips are already in bloom. We imported 300,000 tulip bulbs from Holland this year.

"The garden remains in bloom for nearly a month each year depending on temperature and moisture. Ideal temperature is 15 to 16 degrees with frequent drizzle," said Imran Ahmad Ahangar, assistant floriculture officer at the garden.

Ahangar said last year 160,000 tourists visited the garden.