www.JKLTravels.com Archives

Vande Bharat Express, new train to cut short Delhi-Katra travel time by 4 hours

June 29, 2019June 29, 2019 Editor

Offering bonanza to Vaishno Devi pilgrims, the Indian Railways has decided to run a high-tech semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express between Delhi and Katra with an aim to reduce the travel time by about four hours. Senior officials at Rail Bhawan said the decision to run the second Vande Bharat Express was taken recently by the Railway Board and the trial runs were expected soon. “Since there are plans that the express train will run at 130 kmph between New Delhi and Ludhiana, we have planned to launch the trial runs…

Today governor, Satya Pal Malik to inaugurate Sindhu festival in Ladakh

June 28, 2019June 28, 2019 Editor

Governor Satya Pal Malik is arriving in Leh district on Friday on a two-day visit. The Governor will on Friday inaugurate the day-long Ladakh Singhey Khababs Sindhu Festival, being organised by the tourism department on the banks of the Indus. The aim of organising the festival on the Indus is to endorse the mighty river as a symbol of multi-dimensional cultural identity of the country. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the festival in which traditions and cultural heritage of Ladakh will be presented to the visiting tourists. An official…

In a first, Amarnath pilgrims to be tagged for a safe trek

June 15, 2019June 15, 2019 Editor

In a first, each of the 300,000-odd pilgrims expected to visit the Amarnath Shrine this year will be tracked from the base camp to the shrine and back, using a unique card, even as nearly 45,000 security personnel will be deployed to protect them, a senior home ministry official said on the condition of anonymity. The annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine begins on July 1. “Each pilgrim will be personally tracked through a unique card. The cards will be given to them when they set out from the base…

Tourism sector on the brink of disaster

May 3, 2019May 3, 2019 Editor

Kashmir needs no introduction as a tourism destination and its rich history is known the world over. Over the years, huge investment from the government as well as the public has played a vital role in making it a world famous tourism destination. Although it has got everything to qualify as a world-class tourism destination the prevailing political scenario and the wrong economic policies of the government, step-motherly treatment of government of India towards Kashmir and negative media publicity has turned this industry and the people associated with it on…

‘Tourists are our Guests’ Kashmir hotels open doors to stranded tourists

February 28, 2019February 28, 2019 Editor

Amid heightened cross-border tension, which led to the closure of the Srinagar airport for civilian flights on Wednesday, hotels in the Kashmir valley have opened their doors to the stranded tourists, offering them free accommodation. Several hoteliers and travel agents came to the rescue of the tourists as the Srinagar-Jammu national highway too remained mostly shut during the past few weeks. “As tourists got stranded on Wednesday, we (Radisson group) offered free accommodation to them. We want to tell the tourists that they are our guests and we will make…

Why J&K Tourism lags far behind Kerala and Gujarat?

August 31, 2018 Editor

In 2017, a record 10 million foreign tourists visited India. As many as 103 million domestic tourists visited the picnic spots and health resorts within India, the same year. The hospitality sector contributes 6.88 percent to India’s GDP and is estimated to earn 27 billion dollars, the next year. It was the Incredible India campaign launched by Government of India in 2002 that helped India pitch itself as a high-end destination. In fiscal 2017-198, Ministry of Tourism spent Rs 300 crore to promote the campaign on various media. Central Tourism…

TAAI dwells on high Airfares, Tourist Security

March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 Editor

Delegates address impediments to tourism sector Even as the ongoing Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) convention has brought fresh ideas and insights to the local stakeholders, the delegates also took up contentious issues facing the Valley’s tourism sector. Besides its routine business, the convention, which is being held here after a gap of three decades, also talked of measures to address the stumbling blocks to the growth of local tourism, especially security concerns of tourists and soaring airfares in the peak season. Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA)…

Undo negative perception about Kashmir: Tassaduq Mufti

March 27, 2018March 27, 2018 Editor

The negative impression about Jammu and Kashmir needs to be changed so that tourism regains its old glory in the state, Tourism Minister Mufti Tassaduq Hussain said on Tuesday. Addressing the media after inaugurating the 64th convention of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), the Minister said tourism had to grow in Kashmir simultaneously with an awareness on environment and ecology. “We have been polluting our rivers and lakes. This trend has to be reversed immediately so that environmental awareness keeps pace with the development of the tourist industry in…

Kashmir Calling: Hoteliers slash rates by 30% across Kashmir Valley

February 26, 2018 Editor

The hoteliers of the Kashmir valley have announced 30 per cent discount for the intending tourists for the coming spring and summer seasons. A Tourism Department official today said the announcement was made during a seminar organised jointly by the department and the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Federation (KHAROF) in Kolkata. KHAROF president Abdul Wahid Malik said their body had 600 members and the discount was being offered in an effort to boost tourist arrivals to the Valley. “We are announcing 30 per cent rebate on our tariffs so…