Srinagar: The Kashmir valley has been witnessing a sudden rise in tourist inflow this winter as more than 4500 tourists have visited in January and February month of 2021.
Soon after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed the states and UTs to open up for tourism in June 2020 following the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism department in Kashmir has been on toes to host tourists in the valley.
As per the official figures available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) from January 2020 to December 2020, as many as 41,267 tourists visited the valley.
In the month of December alone, the valley received 13,237 tourists and witnessed a massive celebration of Christmas and the New Year.
In the month of January this year, 19,102 tourists were reported to have visited the valley, while February witnessed 26,000 tourist footfall.
An official of the Tourism Department told KNO that fresh snowfall is nature’s gift, though the promotions, events and programs for the winter session are already over.
“The department is preparing for upcoming spring events which include a two-day mega festival on the opening of Tulip Garden, and day-long fest at Badamwari in Srinagar,” an official said.
“The fresh snowfall has surely extended the winter tourism at few hill stations in the valley, those who missed enjoying the white blanket, can still come to have a glimpse of both dry plains and white powdered mountains,” he said.
Notably, world-famous ski destination Gulmarg also hosted the winter national games ‘Khelo India’ in which around 1200 athletes from different parts of India participated—(KNO)
