Kashmir records increase in foreign tourist arrival

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) Despite advisories issued by some countries in the wake of terrorist attacks in Kashmir, the number of foreign tourists to the valley had gone up this year.

However, there was a slight decline in the domestic tourist arrival. Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni told the Lok Sabha today that as many as 359,483 tourists, including 10,317 foreign tourists, visited the Kashmir Valley up to July 26 this year. "There has been a slight increase in foreign tourists arrival to the valley this year," Ms Soni said, adding that as many as 10,317 foreign tourists visited the valley this year as compared to 9,777 during the corresponding period last year.

The decline in the domestic tourist arrival was only minimal with 349, 166 visiting this year as against 365,818 during the same period last year.

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