Key tourism players of Jammu and Kashmir have come up with lucrative and economical packages for the coming season to attract both national and foreign tourists to the valley.
In a joint effort, houseboat owners and hoteliers have announced affordable packages to revive the valley's badly hit tourism sector.
"As you know, there were floods in Jammu and Kashmir in Septmenber. Since then, tourism has gone down to zero. We used to tell clients and agents that everything has become normal, but no one was ready to visit this place. Business has gone down to zero. So, we hoteliers, started giving discounts of between 30 and 40 percent so that tourists feel attracted to visit the valley. This way the economy of
Kashmir will also boom. These are the steps we have taken," said Mushtaq Ahmed, a hotel owner.
"Unfortunately, the situation in Kashmir has been highlighted in such a negative manner that the level of tourism has gone down in the past six to seven months. In May, hotels are normally full. Hence, now, we are giving discounts not only on hotels but also on houseboats so that tourists can come to Kashmir and freely roam around the place. Kashmir's backbone is tourism and we are trying our level
best so that tourism starts all over again, so that the money from tourism gets circulated," added Tariq Ahmed, a house boat association member.
"The tourism rush has gone down after the floods. The government has taken up initiatives, but nothing is settled. Tourism is considered as a resource in Kashmir. Henceforth, I appeal to all tourists to come and visit the area which is now safe. Discounts have been kept as marginal as possible, compared to the normal rates. We, as travel agents, have lowered down our rates," said Shabir Ahmed.
With the Jammu and Kashmir Government having issued an advisory in April declaring the Kashmir Valley as a "flooded", tour operators are experiencing a dip in tourist flows.
According to reports, tour operators are asking the state government to issue an amended advisory that says the valley is flood-free.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to tourists not to cancel their trips to the valley.
