The Hindu Business Line : Kashmir back on tourist map

WITH an improvement in Indo-Pak relations, Kashmir is slowly getting back on the tourist map as a favoured summer holiday destination. This year, it is one of the top summer escapes along with Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Kerala.

According to travel agents in the city, since its return to the tourist circuit in 2003, there has been a marked increase in tourist flows to the State.

This year, for example, if you have not already booked your seats, travel by rail to Jammu will be a hard choice with bookings full right through to the middle of May. And air travel on apex fares could also be proves difficult, especially through April.

Keeping in view the renewed interest in the destination, Thomas Cook has once again begun to offer packages to Kashmir this year.

According to an official with the agency, the improvement in the ground situation has created interest in the State. The market has once again become receptive to Kashmir as a travel destination.

The State, he said, offered a good choice of holiday activities from adventure in Kargil and Leh, to hiking trips in Pahalgam, and religious travel in Jammu and Katra. The season, which began in March, was likely to extend up to September and October, he said.

According to the Director of Kesari Tours, Mr Sudhir Patil, travel to Kashmir was picking up with departures planned every week.

The tourist flow from Mumbai and Ahmedabad, he said, had been especially good. Each trip on average extended for four to six nights.

Sita 1001 Holidays of India, a brand of SOTC, has already booked around 200 customers to Jammu & Kashmir.

The agency was looking at a figure of at least 1,000 customers during the season.

According to Mr Mahesh Shirodkar, Chief Operating Officer, SOTC, so far, 95 per cent of their clients to Jammu & Kashmir have been from the western region, mostly from Maharashtra.

But, the company was now receiving a number of enquiries from the South, especially from Tamil Nadu.

SOTC is the outbound division of Kuoni Travel (India) Pvt Ltd.

The agency was selling the State as a family destination with group travel packages; in comparison, last year, it was marketed as a destination for independent travellers, he said.

More Stories on : Tourism | Other States

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page