Jammu & Kashmir has seen a great evolution in the zone of tourism after 2 years of pandemic due to incresed facilities. To maintain the boost in winter too, Tourism department had added helicopter services to see the winter snow covered spots.
During the past couple of years, to expand winter tourism beyond the well-known skiing location of Gulmarg in North Kashmir. The emphasis has been on boosting tourism in the snowy regions that are still inaccessible because of blocked roads.
The move by the Jammu and Kashmir administration has improved aviation connectivity to J&K and decreased airfare. As a result, Kashmir is becoming a more and more popular vacation destination.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government's reduction of the VAT on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) from 26.5% to 1% has ushered in a new era of air connectivity in the region, with refueling up by a whopping 360%.
The plan has been advanced to provide helicopter service to snow-bound locations that may become winter tourism hotspots. Tourists have flocked to Bandipora and Kupwara districts, respectively, along the Line of Control (LoC). The government has planned to launch dedicated helicopter flights to these places for visitors starting this year.
Sonamarg, Karnah, and Gurez will stay open to tourists throughout the winter months for perhaps the first time in 70 years. In order to attract visitors, the government intends to integrate adventurous activities and other attractions in these locations. The new ski areas are more likely to be built in snowy locations.
The state has addressed the primary issue by establishing a secure and safe workplace. The change in the ground situation has enabled stakeholders to advertise Kashmir as a popular tourism destination, and they have received an enormous response.
Srinagar recently held the 4th Heli-India Summit. Various helicopter industry players participated. The conference gave a chance for the J&K government to ask the helicopter industry to become a part of the Union Territory's continuing development process.
Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, noted at the summit that the many picturesque places in the Himalayan area get year-round visitor influx. He affirmed that Jammu and Kashmir has the potential to grow the heli-tourism business.
Hence changes such as promoting winter tourism will provide job opportunities for residents and tourism players who could include these places to their itineraries and cement Kashmir as a wintertime travel destination.
