“Since foreign tourists have greater attraction for adventure tourism, the rise in foreign tourist arrivals recorded in peak summer months this year is also being attributed to the promotion of adventure tourism in Jammu & Kashmir”.
Nothing new in it that Jammu & Kashmir particularly Kashmir Valley is home to adventure tourism but what has added to it’s growth and expansion is the promotion of new hilly tourist resorts likely Bungus Valley in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district and Doodpathri and Tosamaidan in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. With Kashmir fast changing into an all weather tourist destination in view of unprecedented rise in tourist footfall and promotion of both new and old tourist destinations in both Kashmir Valley and as well Jammu division during last more than two years, the adventure tourism too is becoming a focused area for the J&K Government’s tourism department. Though trekking, skiing, river rafting, and paragliding are not new to foreign and domestic tourists in Kashmir Valley but the focus of the Government on such activities during last more than two years has undoubtedly increased the scope for rise in tourist footfall even in mid winter this year commencing from mid December. True it is that trekking, skiing, river rafting and kayaking was going on at a very slow pace for decades together but with the conduct of more and more events for the lovers of adventure tourism at the hilly resorts both in Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division the local youth are also now increasingly showing deeper interest in adventure tourism. Since foreign tourists have greater attraction for adventure tourism, the rise in foreign tourist arrivals recorded in peak summer months this year is also being attributed to the promotion of adventure tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. Experts believe that foreign tourist arrivals would most likely show unprecedented rise this winter also in view of the increasing focus on adventure tourist activities like trekking , skiing and mountaineering in ensuing mid winter season this year.
“Increased focus on adventure tourism won’t just promote trekking, skiing and mountaineering during mid winter season in Jammu & Kashmir but it would also generate new employment opportunities for the local populations besides giving a major boost to Kashmir’s hotel Industry witnessing a huge expansion during last more than two years”.
Since for boosting trekking, skiing and mountaineering the engagement and involvement of local guides, porters, and other support staff is a priority for the Government, the promotion of adventure tourist activities during mid winter months would by all standards of understandabilities generate more and more employment opportunities for the local populations in the hilly resorts like Gumarg, Pahalgam, and Bungus Valley. The increasing focus on adventure tourism won’t only just increase tourist footfall and consequently boost employment avenues for the local populations in the hilly resorts but would also throw up bigger opportunities for the local tour and travel operators to offer special packages to the tourists during mid winter season in Valley. So increased focus on adventure tourism won’t just promote trekking, skiing and mountaineering during mid winter season in Jammu & Kashmir but it would also generate new employment opportunities for the local populations besides giving a major boost to Kashmir’s hotel Industry witnessing a huge expansion during last more than two years.
