Jammu and Kashmir sees an increased number of footfall

Prahlad Patel, Union Tourism Minister on Thursday opined that Jammu and Kashmir have seen a significant rise in the number of tourists. The number of people visiting Srinagar in January 2020 was 3,750 which massively increased to 19,000 in January 2021.

Hitting out at naysayers, the Union Tourism Minister, Prahlad Patel has further said that the rise in tourists in the state indicates the revival of the sector after the coronavirus pandemic.

In a speech at the inauguration of the inaugural ceremony of the third India Tourism Mart, organized by the Federation of Associations in India Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), Patel exclaimed that the data points out that the number of people visiting Srinagar and Jammu has increased in number in the month of January in comparison to the same period the previous year.

3,750 people visited Srinagar in January 2020 and 19,000 visited the Union territory in January 2021.

The data this year negates the statement, “There has been a continuous negative discourse on the effect of tourism in J & K due to the abrogation of Article 370”.

He further states, “Some other states like Goa have also started showing signs of recovery, while states like Maharashtra and Kerala are still not open. We have to promote domestic tourism as international travel will be restricted for some time”.

Patel is in all praise for the sector’s resilience and motivated the hotels, service providers, and others connected to the tourism industry to get themselves registered on SAATHI and Nidhi portals.

While addressing a gathering, Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan appreciated the participation of over 250 delegates from 60 countries, attending the virtual event.

Vardhan exclaimed, “This third India Tourism Mart holds even more significance as it is being organized at a time when the world is emerging from the dark clouds of the pandemic and the countries all across the world are contemplating on opening up travel albeit with all health and security precautions in place. India has embarked on the world’s largest immunization program against Covid – 19. We have not only vaccinated over 8.5 million people in India but have also sent millions of doses to other countries seeking our help”.

Relating to the advancement in healthcare facilities, the minister further remarked that India has always been a hot favorite destination for tourism, but over the past few years, it has also developed itself to be a leading destination for medical tourism.

He concluded that in order to encourage it more, the government has started issuing medical visas and has a plan to restart e – tourist visas soon and also scheduled international flights.