Taking strong exception to the government proposal to turn Tulip garden into a ‘round-the-year tourist spot’, the Valley-based tourism traders today said it will deprive Kashmir of its USP.
The tourism players said the move would prove counter-productive for the Tulip garden which is known for its serene locales and variety of tulip bulbs attracting hordes of backpackers during spring to Kashmir.
On the foothills of Zabarwan, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden has been ranked among ‘Top 5 tulip gardens’ to be visited across the globe, by the World Tulip Summit Society.
“There is no need to add something to the tulip garden which would ruin its USP. Even Holland has failed in its attempt to keep the tulip gardens open for the whole year,” President, Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, Muhammad Ibrahim Siah, said, adding that any such plan by the government could prove disastrous for the tulip garden.
He said there are other gardens in Srinagar particularly on the banks of the Dal lake where the tourists visit round-the-year. “There is no need to plant more varieties of flowers at Tulip garden which will defeat its purpose,” he added.
Shamim Shah of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) – J&K Chapter, said that Floriculture department and other agencies concerned should upgrade the facilities instead of trying to convert the Tulip garden into an ordinary garden.
“There is no need to keep the garden open for the whole year when its USP is tulips, which attract people from across the globe to Kashmir,” he said, adding that the government must concentrate on upgrading infrastructure rather than indulging in ill-conceived plans.
He said PariMahal is in ruins which needs to be improved instead of extending the time period of tulip garden.
“Tulip garden is now very famous and it is attracting tourists by March end and April also. When it will have other flowers, it can’t be named as Tulip garden and will lose its charm,” Shah said, adding that the government should re-think over this proposal.
“If other varieties of flowers are planted, then we will lose Tulip garden and this garden is the main USP for the State which will be lost. This decision will backfire,” said Shah.
To mention, Srinagar’s lone Tulip Garden has bagged prestigious World Tulip Award.
The Tulip Garden here has over 100 varieties of tulips in various hues.
The garden was developed in 2007.
Earlier, the historic Mughal Gardens used to be the first choice for tourists visiting the Valley. For past several years, the Tulip Garden has become main attraction of visitors during the onset of spring.
Formerly known as SirajBagh, the Tulip Garden was the brainchild of then Chief Minister GhulamNabi Azad. The garden was developed with an objective to provide tourists with an added incentive to visit the Valley
