Opinion | Winter Tourism in Kashmir

It is important that tourism & sports activities should not stop during winters but must be continued.

Tourism industry is going to be one of our biggest industry in future. A lot of people from different parts of country and world travel to different tourism destinations in Kashmir valley even during this winter season. Recently government of India has brought several border areas on tourism map like Keran, Machil, Tangdhar, Gurez, Bangus Valley and other place. The introduction of new places on tourism map has created endless opportunities for the people to earn their livelihood. However it is important that these newly tourist destinations be made feasible for winter tourism as well as these places carry tremendous potential for winter games and winter tourism.
Bangus valley in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district has a huge potential to provide diverse opportunities to the youth of Kashmir during winters as well in summers. It is important that tourism & sports activities should not stop during winters in Kashmir but must be continued. Similarly Gurez Valley can be a place for such activities and people of whole Gurez Valley can get absorbed in different tourism activities in summers as well in winter provided if government develops an appropriate infrastructure for the upliftment of tourism sector there.

Kashmir is blessed with immense natural beauty. We have mountains and pristine lakes, rivers and forests that attract tourists. Every part of Kashmir Valley is full with opportunities and employment scope but it needs a big push from the government so that tourism activities doesn’t stop during winter period. According to Economic Survey 2019-20 report, service sector particularly tourism has proved as the huge contributor to the State Gross Development Product. In J&K Service sector’s contribution to SGDP is more than 58 per cent it is because of tourism.
People can invest in the tourism industry for great profit as it can provide opportunities to invest in building of hotels, restaurants and other related infrastructure at newly introduced tourist places like Gurez, Bangus Valley, Machil, Keran, Teetwal, Tangdhar, Uri , Lolab, Doodpathri, Tulail and in other areas. A great potential is there to yield great profit as millions of tourists will definitely visit these places if the accommodation issues and other related requirements are made available to the tourists.
The government of Jammu and Kashmir should support the investment in the tourism sector and it needs to persuade Multinational National Companies to invest in this sector. People of Kashmir are in need of a helping hand at the initial stage of any tourism business.
The people of Kashmir are popular for their hospitality. The Kashmiri cuisine Wazwan and other Kashmiri dishes is something a tourist can’t find somewhere else. Food industry can emerge an important aspect for investment in the tourism sector and can provide job opportunities to the youth.
To promote tourism in border areas of Kashmir government should conduct adventure sports activities in summers as well during winter period. Just few months before in 2022 the Indian Army’s Eastern Command has announced a series of adventure sports activities on Indo-China border areas. The adventure activities were planned over 78 days. Cycling, trekking and rafting etc adventure games were conducted Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. On similar pattern government should conduct such activities in border areas of Kashmir on a massive scale.

Winter Olympic Games is one of the Major international multi-sport event conducted during snow season. After every four years winter Olympics are taking place. Sports athletes from India also participate in these events bring laurels. Kashmir valley has a huge potential to host Winter Sports Olympics but unfortunately we still lag behind in creating such infrastructure. Need of the hour is to prepare infrastructure in the valley required for winter Olympics in future. Kashmir valley is bears the qualities where these sports like Bobsleigh, Curling, Ice Hockey, Skiing etc can be conducted.
Among the total population of Jammu and Kashmir 69 per cent comprises the youth. Considering this fact, it is very important that young population is taken care of and every effort should be put in operation to make a reach out to the young population of Jammu and Kashmir. Their every legitimate demand related to jobs should be met with out any further delay. True, it is not possible for the government to provide a government job to every individual but it is possible definitely that government can guide the youth and provide them assistance to invest in tourism sector. Thousands of unemployed youth can be absorbed in tourism sector. Kashmir has a vast adventure sports tourism potential. Government should immediately introduce adventure sports activities in all the newly introduced tourist destination.

Tourist place of Kashmir are suitable for White Water Rafting. Our rivers can be used for Wild Water Rafting, Parasailing, Swimming, angling, Canoeing. In Land Adventure Sports these places are perfect for Mountaineering, Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowboarding Trekking. gee Jumps, Mountain Cycling, Jeep Safaris and Cave Exploration. These adventure activities can be conducted during winters and summers. Kashmir is not only about natural beauty but it has unparalleled potential to be the best adventure sports destination which itself can bring transformation among its young population if tourism sector is taken as a priority and people are persuaded towards this sector.

Writer can be reached at : lawtahirmajeed@gmail.com