“The surge in tourist arrivals is so much unprecedented that hotels in Gulmarg and Pahalgam were packed to capacities much before the Christmas and new year celebrations this winter.”
Though unprecedented rise in tourist footfall witnessed during ongoing winter season much before the Christmas and New Year celebrations has brought economic warmth at the hilly tourist resorts like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg in Kashmir valley but still there many more hill stations in Kashmir Valley which if given a major facelift would become ideal for winter tourism in coming few years. For the first time after decades of slowdown in the tourist arrivals in Kashmir Valley Sonamarg is open for tourist activities for the second consecutive year this winter as an ice skating championship ice skating championship was started this year here on the eve of new year celebrations and shows the interest of the Government in expanding winter tourism in Kashmir Vally. While Sonamarg has virtually changed into an epicentre of tourist activities in mid winter period this year, the tourist activities are at their best also in Gulmarg and Pahalgam as usual. The surge in tourist arrivals is so much unprecedented that hotels in Gulmarg and Pahalgam were packed to capacities much before the Christmas and new year celebrations this winter. Though freezing temperatures head to no dead end at any single place in Kashmir Valley but fortunately the surge in tourist arrivals is also changing winter tourism into a grand success this year. As the Tourism Department has put in place special arrangements for comfort and convenience of tourists at all the three hilly resorts-Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg , the increasing tourist arrivals are unprecedentedly increasing the frequently of tourist activities at all the three world class tourist destinations in Kashmir Valley known for being home to several adventurous winter activities particularly skiing, ice skating and snowboarding .
“While entertaining playfields for games like alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snow-related games are also available at these hill stations, infrastructural development could make them more attractive for other winter tourism activities like curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, and ski jumping. Though Tourism department is putting in it’s best to make more and more hill destinations ideal for winter tourism in future but it needs to roll out more plans for more projects of infrastructural development to further the causes of expanding winter tourism at more and more hill destinations in Kashmir Valley.”
The tourists also seize the opportunity to enjoy heavenly joy in snow-clad places like Betab Valley, Chandanwari and Aru valley in Pahalgam area and as such the winter tourism is at it’s best not only in Gulmarg but also in Pahalgam and Sonamarg as well. It is an irrefutable fact that unexplored virgin landscapes including Yousmarg, Tosamaidan, Bungus Valley, Keran, Warwan and Lolab Valley can also be changed into ideal destinations for winter tourism as large playgrounds ideal for winter sports are available at all these hill destinations of Kashmir valley. While entertaining playfields for games like alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snow-related games are also available at these hill stations, infrastructural development could make them more attractive for other winter tourism activities like curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, and ski jumping. Though Tourism department is putting in it’s best to make more and more hill destinations ideal for winter tourism in future but it needs to roll out more plans for more projects of infrastructural development to further the causes of expanding winter tourism at more and more hill destinations in Kashmir Valley.
