Decreasing number of tourists's visits to Srinagar

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) The total number of visits of foreign tourists, both domestic and foreign, to Srinagar during January-April this year, decreased by 39 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni said while the number of visits by domestic tourists decreased, those of foreign tourists increased.

Ms Soni said that during Januaray-April this year, a total of 76106 tourists, including 7361 from abroad, visited Srinagar while the figures during the corresponding period last year were 124772 and 6128 tourists, respectively.

''In view of the 20 per cent growth in foreign tourist visits to Srinagar during January-April this year as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, loss of foreign exchange is not expected,'' she said.

The minister informed that that attractive tourist packages were being offered by the private sector and the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) to woo tourists.

She also said that lack of such packages was not perceived as the reason for decline in number of tourists.

The Department of Tourism of the state government is undertaking a number of activities to motivate tourists to visit the state, including participation in various travel marts and organisation of Road Shows in different cities across the country.

It also participated in a number of international marts, such as World Trade Mart at London (November 6-9, 2006), ITB, Berlin (March 9-12 March), Arabian Travel Mart at Dubai (May 1-4 May), Bahrain International Travel Expo (May 7-10).

Further, Jammu and Kashmir was Partner State in this yesr's SATTE held in the national capital in April.

Ms Soni said the Centre had earmarked 50 tourist villages in the state under Rural Tourism Scheme.

The other schemes for promotion of tourism include creation of infrastructure at places like Gateway of Kashmir(Qazigund), Eid-gal (Srinagar), Hassan Villa (Srinagar), Mattan and Kheer Bhawani Shrine (Kashmir) and Mubarak Mandi Akhnoor, Shiv Khori (Jammu).

Setting up of golf courses at Sidhra, Pahalgam, Gulmarg in Kashmir is a Centrally-sponsored scheme.

UNI