Kashmir tour operators cite peace in Valley to boost footfalls

With peaceful conditions prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir, the tourism body and the tour operators from the state are seeking to push the 'paradise on earth' as a major tourism destination.
"2016 was very good year for us. We expect to carry that momentum to 2017. There were some disturbances of course. It affected us. It has not affected us much. It has not affected our passion to promote tourism.
"We are now on a promotional campaign all across South, Central, East and West of the country," Mahmood A Shah, Director of Tourism-Kashmir, said at a tourism roadshow here.
He said similar roadshows were held in Chennai, Raipur, Kochi and Lucknow. Similar shows will be held in Delhi (from February 15), Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

"We will be covering almost all the big cities. We are getting good response everywhere. We urge people to come to Kashmir. We try to dispel the negative perception," Shah said.
The J & K Pilgrim and Leisure Tour Operators Forum (PILTOF) representatives were also present on the occasion.

Replying to a query, Shah said tourists have never been harmed in Jammu and Kashmir though there are forces that try to disrupt peace in the state.
"People basically want tourism to flourish. But, there are negative elements at times who want to disturb peace and tranquillity in the state which have been sponsored across the border. If you want to defeat these extremist forces, you have to promote tourism," he said.

Noting that the state does not have industries, he said its economy mainly comprises horticulture, handicrafts and hospitality sectors.
About a million people in the state are directly dependent on tourism and another one million are indirectly dependent on the sector, he said.
The tulip gardens and the blooms of apricots, cherry, mustard, the heritage monuments, the temple and Buddhist and Sufi circuits would be the things to look out for in 2017.
Quoting Meteorology officials, he said the Shiv Lingam at Amarnath Shrine would be the largest this year. The Amarnath Yatra would start towards the end of June.