J&K eyes a good tourist season

The Jammu and Kashmir government is going all out to make up for last year’s drop in tourist footfall and is taking a slew of measures, which include organising sporting events and spring carnivals, to attract visitors to Kashmir and Ladhak this summer.

The Royal Springs Golf Course, for example, organised Tulip Golf Tournament in which tourists, locals and Army officers participated. Earlier, Tulip Garden in the lap of Zabarwan hills became the main attraction for tourists. Director of Floriculture, Kashmir, Talat Pervez told The Sunday Guardian that more than 1.5 lakh people visited the garden. Secretary of Royal Springs Golf Course, Nuzhat Gul said many golf tournaments are lined up this summer, including the Hero Honda Women’s Golf Championship in August, Sarnia Invitational Golf Tournament in June, Junior Pro-Tournament and Junior Coaching Programme. Giving details of the measures being taken by the State Tourism Department, the Director of Tourism, Kashmir, Mehmood Ahmad Shah, said a two-day shikara festival was held in Dal Lake besides other events. He added that more than a dozen movie crews will visit the valley for shooting next month.