City sees 35% rise in tourists to Kashmir

City sees 35% rise in tourists to Kashmir

City-based Jethwa family met with an accident on Srinagar – Jammu national highway on Saturday. The initial news received was that it was a grenade attack by terrorists. Later the Jammu police clarified that it was a CNG cylinder explosion in a packed bus of tourists. While the police is still investigating what caused the accident, city based tour operators aren’t worried. They are confident about the safety of tourists in Kashmir. The city’s tour operators are claiming that tourism in Kashmir is picking up, with an almost 30-35% rise in tour packages as compared to last year. Railway, airlines and hotel bookings show similar records as do agents coordinating travel within Srinagar. The rise, claim operators, is thanks to vigilant local police and military support. “For two decades, the fear of terrorists loomed over the valley. Now, tourism there is booming with people travelling there from across the country and abroad,” said a tour operator from Vile Parle. He added that his Srinagar-Kashmir packages have dominated the summer vacations and show no sign of letting up. “People have overcome their fear of terrorism in Kashmir. They are more than willing to go to the valley for its scenic beauty. Summer was meant for just vacations, now is pilgrimage season. The tours are planned accordingly, first the pilgrims visit Amarnath or Vaishnodevi followed by a tour of Kashmir,” said Sameer Wage, sales executive from Raj Travels. Kesari Tours has also planned various trips and packages for Jammu – Srinagar for July, August and September leading up to October. “We have planned more than 20 each in trip with airfare and about 28 people in a group without airfare. People simply want to be in Kashmir. Many of our patrons revisit the valley too”, said a senior executive in Kesari Tours.