Foreign tourist footfall on decline in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir sees a dip in foreign tourist arrivals but remains upbeat as domestic tourist footfall increases by 425 per cent.

Srinagar: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreign tourists visiting the Kashmir Valley has declined by more than 90 per cent while on the other hand, the number of domestic tourists has increased significantly by over 425 per cent. According to statistics of the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Tourism, accessed by ETV Bharat, "In the first three months of 2021, the Valley received a total of 92,913 tourists. Out of these, 354 were foreigners while 92,559 were domestics tourists."

The statistics further showed that most of the tourists have visited the Valley in the month of March. A total of 47,593 tourists visited in March, out of which 140 were foreign and 47,453 were domestic travellers. In January, 19,102 tourists came to Kashmir, out of which 19,042 were domestic and 60 foreigners. In February, 26,218 people visited the Union Territory out of which 154 were foreigners and 26,064 domestic visitors.

Last year, by the end of March, a total of 17,688 tourists had arrived in Kashmir, out of which 14,052 were domestic and 3,636 were foreign.

Talking to ETV Bharat, a senior official of the tourism department said, "Our department went to other states of the country and conducted campaigns to give a boost to tourism. The Khelo India Winter Games held in the month of February also helped in reviving the tourism sector in Kashmir. We are taking other initiatives as well to boost tourism here.”

On explaining the reason for the decline in the influx of foreign tourists, he said, "The tourism sector in the Valley has been severely affected by the Covid pandemic. Many countries still have restrictions on travel. Not only in the Valley but in other states of the country also, foreign tourists are less visible."

While expressing his concern about the same, he said, "We thought it would be fine this year, but we are on the brink of another Covid wave. We can't say what will happen in the future. Last year also, not many visited Kashmir till May and June. But this year we are seeing people still coming to visit Tulip Garden and other places in Kashmir."