Kashmir beckons Telugu tourists

Hyderabad: The paradise on Earth beckons you. Since June this year, over 5.5 lakh domestic tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir so far and of these about 10 per cent have been from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. So much so, to make things convenient and comfortable for Telugu tourists, apart from tour operators, local hotels and […]

Hyderabad: The paradise on Earth beckons you. Since June this year, over 5.5 lakh domestic tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir so far and of these about 10 per cent have been from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

So much so, to make things convenient and comfortable for Telugu tourists, apart from tour operators, local hotels and dhabas are now offering idly, sambhar and other regular southern Indian dishes.

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Sharing these details during the road show organissed here on Saturday, Patnitop Tourism Development Authority CEO, Sher Singh said post lockdown there was heavy influx of tourists from Southern States to Jammu and Kashmir.

Apart from visiting Mata Vaishnodevi Temple, many tourists are now making it a point to visit Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Sanasar and other places in Jammu. Similarly, in Kashmir, most tourists are visiting Gurez, Sonmarg, Pahalgam and other places.

Buoyed with the influx, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism has now identified 75 new tourist destinations, including Gurez, Kokernag, Basoli, Wullar, Aharbal, Krimchi Temples, Kongwatt, Ranjit Sagar dam, Dhimgarh Fort and others.

All these places offer pilgrimage and adventure tourism, including rafting, mountaineering, trekking and much more. Tourists can experience the hospitality of local people through home stays, boat houses as well, said Gumarg Tourism Development Authority CEO Zahoor Ahmad Raina.

Tourists do not have to worry about security as dedicated tourists’ police and SHOs are deployed. Though, there are no issues and they will take care of the tourists, he assured.

In the last few months, 19 delegations including many elected public representatives, celebrities, VIPs, senior officials visited different districts in J&K. The idea behind organising the road show was to showcase the new destinations in J&K and send a right message to tourists across the country, he added.

Telugu films shooting shortly
Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Officer Mohammad Sajid Kirmani said in September the J&K tourism officials held a meeting with Telugu film industry as part of promoting film shootings.

Film teams do not have to approach Police, Revenue and Tourism Departments individually as J&K tourism offers single window permissions for film shootings. This apart, incentives are offered on food and accommodation, besides facilitating in logistics, he said.

“Telugu film industry officials responded positively and assured to commence film shootings shortly,” said Kirmani.

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