‘Look forward to explore entire Kashmir’
Srinagar: On their maiden visit to Gulmarg tourist resort, a group of tourists from South Africa Wednesday said that they were in love with the natural beauty of ski resort and cable car
“I am happy to be here and Kashmir has such a wonderful view everywhere. Kashmir is truly paradise on earth and it actually looks like a paradise. We have been to second phase of Gulmarg through cable car. It is highly organized,” a South African tourist told (KNO).
Jasmin , another tourist from South Africa said it has been her long wish to explore Kashmir.
“I have been to India in 1983 and since then I have been longing to explore Kashmir. Today, I am here and have explored Gulmarg. I am looking forward to further travel Kashmir,” she said.
Globetrotter, Jenam said she was initially nervous to travel Kashmir. “Kashmir is totally different. I was initially nervous to travel here but finally we made it to visit Kashmir. We are happy to be here since the place is very beautiful and fabulous. Today, we enjoyed a cable car ride and witnessed a sunshine. We are now going to visit some other places here.
Kashmir post G20 has witnessed a revival in the foreign tourism. As per the figures, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed 300 percent yearly increase in foreign tourists.
In 2023, Jammu and Kashmir became a global tourism hub, welcoming 2.02 crore tourists and over 50 thousand foreign visits.
This year, more than a million tourists visited Kashmir in the first five months.
Given the rise in the foreign arrivals, the tourism department as well as the stakeholders are holding blitzkrieg to attract further foreigners.
Umar Ahmad, a travel agent said that many among them are now focussing on countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Europe for foreign arrivals.
He said the valley for the last few years has witnessed an increase in the arrival of foreign tourists from these places.
“Many travel agents have been regularly traveling to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia to hold promotional programmes. The government too contributed to the tourism sector by holding G20 summit during which delegates from these countries visited Kashmir,” he said—(KNO)
