Admin making all out efforts to set tone for bumper tourism season
By: Sameer Lone
Srinagar: With the onset of summer, the Jammu and Kashmir government is making all its efforts to set a tone for a bumper tourism season this year with security agencies asked to make foolproof arrangements to thwart any untoward incidents. At the outset, around 2.30 lakh people have visited Tulip Garden in Srinagar since it was thrown open on March 23, reveal the official data.
Precious Kashmir learnt from official sources that in order to boost tourism, the administration is mulling to organise festivals and cultural events across the valley.
The security agencies have been asked to ensure strict monitoring across length and breadth of Kashmir to keep at bay any untoward happening, sources told the Precious Kashmir.
Meanwhile, houseboat owners and hoteliers are also upbeat looking at the influx of visitors who have started touring Kashmir.
“This year the highest number of people have visited the Tulip Garden in the last few years,” Director Floriculture Farooq Ahmad Rather said.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Department also rolled over first ever hot air balloon rides at Zabarwan Park along the banks of Dal Lake.
Director, Tourism Kashmir, Dr. G N Itoo said that the popularisation of local cultures, cuisine, and languages is part of the promotional campaigns and the department was committed to provide a wholesome local experience of these components to the tourists coming here,” believes G N Itoo, Director Tourism Kashmir.
The administration has decided to organise programmes which will be attended by several Bollywood celebrities in coming weeks.
The government has also decided to organise autumn, houseboat, saffron festivals to promote Kashmir-based destinations.
It may be recalled that the administration has put in extra efforts this year to increase the tourist footprints in Jammu and Kashmir.
The spring bloom shops and trees have been added to the Tulip garden which continues to remain a main center of attraction in the months of March, April and May.
An open air cafeteria has been set up in the garden while a Sakura garden has been constructed at the east side of the Tulip garden on which the work is going on in full swing.
According to officials in the Directorate of Floriculture there are around 15 lakh Tulips in full bloom on display with varieties like Daffodil, Hyssen and Muscari etc.
