New avenues of tourism
Given the healthy footfall of tourists in the current season, the J & K government not only identified new tourist destinations but they are trying to bring high end tourists here.
In this direction they have been pursuing golfers, trekkers and some business houses to hold conferences in Kashmir. In the vicinity of the Royal Spring Golf Course of Srinagar is the SKICC which has the potential to hold huge international business conferences.
The ongoing golf tournament at Royal Spring Golf Course of Srinagar will provide the window of opportunity to hold international golf tournaments in Srinagar. Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez told this newspaper that Kashmir will emerge as the golfing capital of India and has the potential to hold international golf tournaments in future. He said that his department is working hard on the ground and in the coming months, they expect more golf tournaments in Kashmir especially at places like Pahalgam and Gulmarg. Aimed at huge footfall of tourists in Kashmir, the J&K Tourism Department has simplified the registration of houses of common people as home stay, paying guest houses.In the recent past, many stakeholders of tourism have said that they have no rooms to book in Kashmir, prompting the government to encourage people to register their houses as home stay and paying guest houses.
Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary Tourism, said that Kashmir is witnessing unprecedented tourist footfall this season. He said that now the government has already added 75 new tourist destinations and will try to promote home stays at these places to promote local culture, cuisine and handicrafts. He said already many youth have registered their homes and by a proper government notification recently he has created a hassle-free registration with minimum formalities.
