Business Archives | Page 27 of 102

J&K lines up festivals to promote 75 new tourist spots

September 10, 2021 Editor

The J&K tourism department was asked to organise a 3-month tourism festival from November to January around the new tourist places To attract foreign and domestic tourists towards Jammu and Kashmir, the Union territory is planning to promote 75 new tourist spots through a dedicated festival which will be held by the end of this year. J&K is witnessing an uptick in tourist arrivals after a long time and the government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure more footfall, especially in areas less explored. J&K chief secretary Arun Kumar…

What is better than Kashmir if you can’t go to Europe?

September 8, 2021September 8, 2021 Editor

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic may have spelt doom for the tourism and hospitality sector at large, but not in Kashmir. The valley has emerged as the most sought after destination in 2021 for premium domestic tourists otherwise accustomed to jaunts abroad, resulting in a major bump in business for luxury hotels and golf courses. A similar trend is emerging in Meghalaya, the second northeastern State after Sikkim to open for tourists, where high-end hotels are doing better than low-end and budget properties. Tourist footfall in Kashmir valley destinations such as…

US issues a fresh travel advisory, warns Americans travelling to India to avoid J&K

August 17, 2021 Editor

In good news for those in the US wanting to travel to India, the US government on Monday eased its travel advisory for India and lowered it to Level 2 or ‘Moderate’ but has urged Americans not to travel to Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest. Travel advisory Level 2 is considered ‘Safe’ and has come in the wake if a significant improvement in the COVID-19 situation in India. Early this year, the US had put India in…

Mund Daji: A lesser-known picnic spot

July 29, 2021July 29, 2021 Editor

Dr. Zubair Ahmad War Kashmir is famous for the gardens built by Mughal emperors, mostly located in the capital Srinagar. Hill stations such as Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam are famous for their scenic beauty. It is said that Kashmir’s Emperor Yousuf Shah Chak was fond of Gulmarg and used to frequent it along with Empress Habba Khatoon. Mughals too were interested in this place. During British rule, the Englishmen built Golf Courses and Ski Club in picturesque Gulmarg. Even after the British era, Gulmarg received due attention, and Cable Car…

Saffron- Kashmir’s Golden Spice

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021 Editor

Amidst the towering snow-capped mountains of Pampore, Kashmir, lie fields covered in a blanket of purple crocus flowers. This is the flower that produces the precious spice known as saffron. Pampore, a small village located around 14 kilometers from the state capital, Srinagar, is known as the ‘Saffron Capital of India’, with more than 20,000 families associated with saffron cultivation. The saffron produced in the region is of superior quality and can fetch as much as Rs 2, 50,000 per kilogram in the market. The laborious task of cultivating saffron…

COVID Negative report, Vaccine mandatory for tourists visiting district Anantnag

July 13, 2021July 13, 2021 Editor

The district administration of Anantnag in south Kashmir said the visitors to public parks and tourist spots will be permitted only upon producing vaccination certificates and COVID-negative reports to combat the spread of the virus. Authorities in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir have made a COVID-19 negative report and vaccine certificate mandatory for visitors to tourist places, including the famous resort of Pahalgam, in the district to prevent the resurgence of coronavirus, officials said on Sunday. The district administration of Anantnag in south Kashmir, which is home to…

J&K’s economy on brink of collapse: Omar Abdullah

June 20, 2021June 20, 2021 Editor

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday said the economy of Jammu and Kashmir is on the brink of collapse as every sector in the union territory has suffered losses in the last two years. Addressing a meeting of the party’s constituency in-charges of north Kashmir’s Baramulla District at party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha here, Abdullah expressed concern over the soaring unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir and the alleged rising incidents of suicide among the youth. The economy of J&K, it goes without saying, is at the brink of collapse.…

Cherry harvesting begins in full swing as COVID restrictions relaxed in Kashmir

June 19, 2021June 19, 2021 Editor

Following relaxation in lockdown rules, the harvesting of the cherry crop is in full swing in the Kashmir valley. As the pandemic has impacted the horticulturists and the marketing of their produce, the government is helping them sell the crop. Abida Malik, an officer of the Department of Horticulture said, “The pandemic had already delayed the season, and with restrictions on movement, the growers (cherry farmers) were facing difficulties in marketing their produce. The government has, therefore, decided to help the growers market it through them. This will ensure that…

With new hope, Kashmir gears up to revive tourism

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021 Editor

The tourism department proposes special vaccination drives for all stakeholders involved with the industry From vaccinating 80% of stakeholders to elaborate guidelines for hotels, the Tourism department in Kashmir has chalked out a meticulous plan to receive tourists again, as the second wave of coronavirus pandemic dips significantly. “We are working on two fronts for safe and secure means of reviving tourism, as the pandemic level is likely to dip further. First, special vaccination drives for all stakeholders involved with the tourism industry. Two, capacity building on protocols to handle…

How lockdown-hit Kashmir is trying to revive tourism

June 4, 2021June 4, 2021 Editor

It’s been a terrible two years for the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir—already hit by militancy, then the political upheaval in 2019 and now the Covid pandemic. In March 2021, tourist arrivals had picked up to 125,000 from about 19,000 in January. But the spurt in advance bookings and inquiries came to a grinding halt by mid-April as the second wave of Covid-19 hit the country. Tourism accounts for close to 7 per cent of J&K’s GSDP, with more than a third of the Union territory’s 12 million population…