2022: Over 80,000 tourists throng Gulmarg from Jan 1 to Feb 18

Tourism players jubilant, expect good season this year

By: Aabid Hameed

Srinagar: Hinting at increased footfall of tourists across Jammu and Kashmir, over 80 thousand tourists—both domestic and foreigners have thronged the world famous ski-resort, Gulmarg in the first two months of 2022.

The arrival of tourists has been reported at a time when Jammu and Kashmir was hot by the third wave of Covid-19.

An official of the tourism department told Precious Kashmir that since January 2022 to 18 Feb 2022, 83, 577 tourists have visited Gulmarg, showing an increasing trend of footfall of tourists.

Of total 83,557 tourists, 10 are foreigners, 19,424 locals and 61,143 are domestic, he said, adding that in the first month of this year, Gulmarg recorded the footfall of 49,193 tourists including one foreigner, 10,686 locals and 38,506 domestic.

He further added that in month of February till 18th of the month, a total of 34,384 tourists including nine foreigners, 8,738 locals and 25,637 domestic tourists visited the world famous ski-resort.

The increased rush of tourists have also brought happiness among the hoteliers and other tourism players, who stated that as the rush of tourists has increased after the Covid pandemic, they are expecting a good season this year.

“Most of the hotels remain packed for weeks together and the tourists find it very hard to get accommodation in the hotels,” one of the hoteliers said, adding that the rush has brought smiles on the faces of tourism players, who earned their livelihood easily after the outbreak of Covid pandemic.

Pertinently, the government this year decided to bring more tourists spots on winter tourism map due to which the tourist footfall at Pahalgam and Sonamarg recorded an increased.

Notably, Gulmarg usually remains the first favourite spot for the tourists during the winter season as the snow skating, Gondola and other government sponsored games catches the eye of visitors every year.

Gulmarg is located at a distance of 31 km from Baramulla and 49 km from Srinagar. The town is situated in the Pir Panjal Range in the Western Himalayas and lies within the boundaries of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary.

Related Articles