Indian administered Kashmir’s tourism numbers down

An uncertain political atmosphere in Indian administered Kashmir, India led to a significant decline in tourist footfall last year.

An uncertain political atmosphere in Indian administered Kashmir, India led to a significant decline in tourist footfall last year.

Official figures quoting the state’s tourism minister peg the number of tourists at 11.61 which includes 28,000 foreigners, a drop of nearly 10 percent from the number of tourists who visited Kashmir in 2012.

“We received 11.61 lakh tourists last year which is less by one lakh in comparison to last year. But keeping in view the situation we had to face this year the numbers are more than satisfactory,” Ghulam Ahmad Mir, tourism minister was quoted in an Indian daily.

The scenic state remained under severe restrictionsat the beginning of 2013 when 2001 Parliament Attack convict, Mohammad Afzal Guru, was hanged inside New Delhi’s Tihar jail on February 9 last year.

The execution was followed by large scale protests in which at least three civilians were killed.

There has also been a surge in attacks on government forces by separatist militants who are fighting to free the disputed state from Indian rule over the last 24 years.

“We have already organised several tourism-related programmes but there is a lot of space to do more. We are trying to create programmes which will not only showcase the natural beauty of Kashmir but also feature our culture and tradition so that tourists not only enjoy the scenery of the Valley but also learn about the way of living of Kashmiri people,” he told the daily.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...