Jammu & Kashmir expects significant increase in foreign tourist inflow

With the opening of the world's highest gondola ski-lift and steady normalisation of the law and order situation, the Jammu and Kashmir Government expects a significant increase in the inflow of foreign tourists to the state. So far 43,680 foreign tourists mostly from Switzerland, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and France have visited the state, Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Tourism Mohammed Dilawar Mir said today.

The minister who was in London to participate in the World Travel Market, said that Gulmarg was emerging as India's premier ski resort for the 2006-07 season. Mir was keen that UK should encourage its citizens to visit Kashmir. He said an estimated 70 lakh pilgrims had visited the Mata Vaishnav Devi Temple this year, 10 lakh more than last year. In addition another 4.10 lakh domestic tourists had been to Kashmir this year.

Referring to the ski resorts, he said, "the attraction of skiing off the highest gondola in the world, from a height of 4,390 metres on a six kilometre run, with a mild climate, wide open spaces is a huge attraction to skiers from all over the world." "Given the response to the gondola's first season in operation last year, coupled with further improvements to the infrastructure and good forward bookings from Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Canada, we anticipate strong growth for the forthcoming season," he added.

visit us @ http://www.silkrouteholidays.com