The Government of Jammu and Kashmir will soon announce new schemes to boost tourism round the year, with an aim to facilitate employment opportunities for residents of the Kashmir Valley.
Director (Tourism) Talat Parvez said:"If we look at the number of tourists during the peak season, it is more than the carrying capacity. Considering this as a prime reason, many tourists prefer visiting Kashmir when the rush is less. We have decided that we should not have a specific tourist season but have it round the year whether it is autumn or spring and winters. The tourists' number should remain the same as during the summer season. To facilitate this,the government has decided to introduce new schemes to define the focus areas so that by implementing this we may also garner employment for everyone in the valley throughout the year."
Meanwhile, tourists feel that a visit to Kashmir provides them a heavenly experience and the fear of militancy should not be a reason for deterring tourists from visiting the valley.
The Himalayan region is one of the world's most militarised zones, with India deploying more than 1.3 million troops to quell the rebellion that triggered off in 1989.
Dismissing fears of militant threats as exaggerated,a tourist, Neetu said: "I have been to Kashmir for the past three months. When we had decided to visit Kashmir, our relatives asked us to avoid the trip due to the rising militancy in the valley. But when we actually came here we realised that there is no other beautiful place in the entire country. Kashmir gives you a heavenly feel."
Many other tourists visiting the valley said the golden colour of Chinar tree leaves during the autumn season leave the tourists spellbound. This season also marks the beginning of winters in Kashmir, as the locals collect fallen Chinar leaves and burn them during winters.
During winters, the Chinar tree and the pleasant climate attract visitors. Autumn season starts in the valley from mid-September till December 21.
