-, Jun 02, 2024, India Blooms News Service
Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an uptick in tourists with over eleven lakh travellers visiting the Valley in the first six months of the year, officials in the tourism department said.
Data showed that among the 1,155,289 visitors, 22,612 were foreign tourists, reported Indian news agency ANI.
Officials anticipate the Valley is likely to see an influx of international tourists from June.
Hotels in key destinations are currently booked amid a spike in tourist footfall with most states and Union Territories witnessing a rise in mercury level this summer.
Sharing the statistics, an official stated that the current year has seen 11.5 million tourists so far. In comparison, 21.1 million tourists visited the valley in 2023, 18.8 million in 2022, 11.3 million in 2021, and 3.4 million in 2020, ANI reported.
Bilal Ahmad, a Shikara rower, said his earning has thrived with rise in tourism in the picturesque region of the country.
Tourism has been thriving, and so have earnings. This year, festivals like kayaking and car racing have boosted tourism. However, the government should address inflation. Air tickets are very expensive; if trains start running from Kashmir, it will help significantly. Currently, 95% of the law and order situation is stable, he told ANI.