New Destinations for Kashmir Itineraries: Yousmarg and Doodhpathri

This summer season, which government statistics report as the busiest to date, saw Kashmir attracting a record 1.62 crore visitors. This provided much-needed relief to local businesses that rely on tourism, both from local and international tourists, after they suffered severe losses due to the forced lockdown caused by Covid-19. There have been many international visitors in the valley who have grabbed their last minute flights to see the alluring beauty of Kashmir.

The Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir is launching Yousmarg and Doodhpathri as additional tourist sites to capitalize on the success of the current tourism boom and draw in more visitors during the next winter months. According to government statistics, Kashmir welcomed a record 1.62 crore tourists this season, thought to be the greatest number so date. After suffering significant losses during Covid -19’s forced lockdown, this brought much-needed relief to local merchants who depend on tourism.

Fazl-ul-Haseeb, director of tourism has stated that special preparations were being done to handle the influx of visitors this winter season. This includes planning a winter carnival for the visitors. Kashmir intends to host two to three roadshows and the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) in December in order to draw visitors from all regions of the nation and abroad to the valley.

He continued by saying that the department is considering opening two tourism spots, Yousmarg and Dhoodpthri, for the first time this winter.

To attract more visitors, the Youth Services and Sports Department of Kashmir will coordinate the winter carnival events at the two tourism hotspots according to Haseeb.

Additionally, he added, that the government intends to host such tourism-related events in Gulmarg and Pahalgam, two additional tourist hotspots in the valley, in order to draw in more visitors.

Haseeb also said that as the other two tourist attractions remain open this season, it will offer a boost to the tourism sector in the valley. The people of Kashmir hope that the tourist flow will be the same as it was during the summer season this year.

Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers club head Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya voiced “hope” for a significant increase in wintertime tourism.

He said that the hotel owners are pleased to have numerous many visitors over the winter season and they anticipate that hotels in Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonmarg will be filled with travelers from abroad who have grabbed their cheap tickets to India.

There are discounts available for hotel stays throughout the winter, according to Mushtaq, who predicted that there would be a lot of tourists in the area.

According to Mushtaq, the district administration should also provide visitors with basic amenities like water, electricity, snow-clearing equipment, and workers on duty to prevent inconveniences due to Kashmir’s winter weather.

In order to fully utilize the tourism potential of the valley, the government should collaborate with the travel industry to conduct more promotional activities in Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and other tourist destinations.

Sonamarg’s hotel owners are additionally offering discounts. They are willing to work with the government and provide assistance to help it promote tourism in the valley as stated by Mushtaq.