Gulmarg, Srinagar hotels houseful

GULMARG: New Year couldn’t be likely to begin on a better note for the tourist industry of Kashmir. This world-famous ski resort was completely sold out Saturday as scores of tourists from far and near thronged the place to start celebrations on New Year’s Eve on Sunday.

“All hotels and tourist huts are occupied as more arrivals are expected tomorrow as well.

“We have domestic tourists as well as foreigners from Thailand, Malaysia and some other countries. Not only Gulmarg, all high-end hotels and those in the middle class range are completely booked in Srinagar city. Pahalgam tourist resort also has appreciable presence of tourists these days,” state director, Tourism, Mehmood Shah told IANS.

He said aggressive and realistic tourist wooing campaigns through social media by the tourist department and other stakeholders have started paying dividends now.

“What is encouraging is that domestic tourists from south India are now looking at Kashmir as a holiday and honeymoon destination. Hopefully, we will be having a wonderful tourist season this winter and during the coming spring and summer months,” Shah said.

2017 had not begun on a good note for the local tourist industry. Lesser number of tourists came to Kashmir during this year, but the sudden boom noticed around the New Year’s Eve, signifies that 2018 will be a welcome year.