Srinagar, Feb 24 (KNO): After witnessing a major slump post abrogation of Article 370 followed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism in the Valley is slowly regaining its lost glory. Talking with KNO correspondent Jahangir Sofi, Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez talks in length about the revival plan in view of the upcoming summer season and much more.
Here are the excerpts:
KNO: How do you read the pattern of tourists visiting the valley including many Bollywood celebrities?
Hafeez: The flow of Tourists in the last few months has shown an increasing trend which is a positive sign for the Tourism industry. The department is on its toes and is working tirelessly day and night. It is an endless journey and we are fully focused to gain the momentum back.
Recent visit of Bollywood celebrities, Producers Guild was encouraging to boost the tourism in the valley. Many production houses have expressed their desire to turn their cameras towards the valley which will surely help in getting more occupancy of people associated with the tourism industry, be it hoteliers, travel agents, cab operators, catering services, vendors. Overall it is the local populace who will get benefited.
KNO: What were the initiatives taken by your Department to start Tourism amid the Covid-19 pandemic?
Hafeez: Covid-19 is a reality and the world is learning to live with it now. All it needs is to follow the SOPs and guidelines. As soon as MHA passed the directions to restart the Tourism, we mobilised our team and strategy was framed to attract the tourists in the valley. We held many interactions with the tour operators and people associated with the tourism sector in different states of India and many webinars were also conducted.
After the tourists started coming and making queries for bookings, our department in collaboration with other allied departments which majorly included the Health department, made arrangements for testing the tourists at Srinagar Airport and all other entry points of the valley.
KNO: Valley witnessed early and timely snowfall, did it help in attracting tourism?
Hafeez: Of course, early and timely predicted snowfall in Kashmir valley witnessed a good number of tourists. In the month of November 2020, the valley recorded 6327 tourists. Then it was the year-end and in the midst of snowfall with two big events Christmas and New year, the month of December 2020 recorded 13,237 tourists footfall in the valley. Our world-famous ski destination Gulmarg got fully occupied with locals also enjoying the ski resort.
KNO: What are the recent activities of the Tourism Department?
Hafeez: With summer season coming, Directorate of Tourism in Kashmir recently organized a two-day winter Carnival Festival at the world-famous tourist destination Pahalgam. Though tourists and locals usually visit Pahalgam in summers, this year tourists showed interest in winters also.
In the coming summer, more programs and events will be organized to make tourist destinations in the entire Jammu and Kashmir highly enthusiastic and full of energy.
In the coming days, Sonmarg will be officially opened for tourism and a mini-festival will also be organized there. After the culmination of national winter games ‘ Khelo India’ more tourist destinations will be thrown open for summer. This year the department is also exploring the options of getting new tourist destinations on the tourist map—(KNO)