The Kashmir Valley has seen an extraordinary boom in tourism this year, drawing over 2.6 million visitors from January 1 to September 30, 2024. Statistics provided by the Tourism Department reveal a total of 2,628,509 tourists, including 35,254 international travellers, illustrating the region’s rising appeal on the global tourism stage.
Monthly visitor data shows a steady rise: January brought in 199,398 visitors, including 2,167 from overseas. February saw 176,134 tourists, with 6,559 of them being foreigners. In March, the count reached 226,726, and April experienced a boost with 288,398 tourists, of whom 7,348 were international.
This upward trend continued in May, which saw 297,173 visitors, including 2,802 from abroad. June saw even greater numbers, with 378,022 total tourists, including 3,119 foreigners. July witnessed a record-breaking 526,465 arrivals, including 2,740 international visitors. August followed with 339,539 tourists, while September recorded 196,654 visitors, 3,446 of whom were foreigners.
A tourism official noted an uptick in domestic travellers exploring lesser-known areas of Kashmir, a change not previously observed at this scale.
This surge in tourism is a promising sign for Kashmir’s economy, significantly benefiting local hotels, small businesses, and travel operators. Government officials remain positive about Kashmir’s tourism prospects and are actively working to improve infrastructure to accommodate the growing numbers of visitors.
Officials attribute this tourism boom to several key factors. The highly successful G20 Tourism Meeting held in Srinagar earlier this year showcased Kashmir’s potential as a global tourist hub, sparking increased interest from travellers. Notably, the last two months have seen a marked increase in visitors following the G20 event.
Adding to this momentum, the Legends League Cricket tournament, also recently held in Srinagar, has further enhanced the region’s tourism prospects. Officials anticipate that this trend will continue, especially as winter approaches, drawing travellers eager to enjoy Kashmir’s snow-based activities.
Kashmir’s newfound popularity as a premier tourist destination reflects the government’s robust efforts to develop and promote tourism. The warm reception from international visitors highlights the success of these initiatives, demonstrating Kashmir’s appeal as an exceptional travel destination.(Department of Tourism J&K)
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