Mountain Biking Ut
Jammu Kashmir Ladakh – Roads to better Tourism
Jammu – Kashmir – Ladakh
Roads to better Tourism
Travelling down the city centre, Bob wondered if he could self drive; the smooth, macadamised roads of Srinagar city cajoled him to get feel of the silky tarmac. Roads over ages have been inspiring avid travellers to take long drives alone and with the loved ones. Moving out on weekends to country sides or rushing over to the office without a bump throughout the week is another charm of city life.
Road based tourism is one of the fastest growing and most important niches across the globe; for tourism industry it has proved to be like veins for the human body. Road based tourism has brought economic fortunes to remote and eco-friendly areas in entire India particularly in south and south east. Government and private bodies of such tourist destination where tourism is a major source of revenue to a large portion people, meet every infrastructural challenge to make it marvellous for the visitors. Some of the man made marvels have now become a major attraction for the travellers in such places. Mughal gardens in our state are benchmarks set for development of the manmade marvels perfectly blend with the serenity of the nature. Present time recreation places such as Royal Springs Golf Course, Tulip garden, Zabarwan Park and Badam waer in the heart of Srinagar city have become a mark of niche tourism.
It’s proved, that tourism flourishes at places with better air and road connectivity; in recent years quality tourism in Kashmir has boomed by frequent daily domestic flights from Delhi, few from Mumbai and weekly flight from Dubai has raised hopes for revival of international tourism. Black topped roads, long bridges; flyovers through the cities, roadside parks and way side trees with fragrant flowers are few of the ways of making cities look well planned and attractive for the visitors. Beautification of the tourist places must be a regular practice , primarily when daily arrival of tourists is increasing compared to previous seasons; in-spite of the political upheavals in the state.
Cycling in Kashmir used to be a favourite sport of foreigners, viewing pair of cyclist on the boulevard is now just an image of yesteryears. Cycle repair shops in Dalgate had regular visitors to hire cycles during summers. Now such visitors prefer to do mountain biking in Ladakh where tour operators have special bikes for this sport. Upgraded roads of Srinagar city have brightened the chances of operating cycle tours for the tourists in summer time .
According to a report it is expected that the tourism industry will lead the world out of the current economic recession at least by next year. The Madrid-based U.N. World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has projected that the number of tourists worldwide will increase from the current 900 million to over one billion in 2010 and possibly 1.56 billion by the year 2020. The ‘PATA Tourism Forecasts 2009-2011′, says that international tourist arrivals to India this year will exceed 5.5 million. International arrivals to India will grow to over 5.9 million in 2010 and cross 6.3 million by 2011, the report adds.
The share of J&K from the international arrivals to India is certainly minimal compared to Rajasthan, Delhi, UP,MP, Kerala, Bihar, Orissa – other states and UT‘s of India; infact today J&K does not even list in the top 10 highest tourist receiving states of India; predominantly due to the ongoing Kashmir crises that has branded “Paradise on earth” into “destination of unexpected”. A miniscule share of international tourist to Kashmir is yet encouraging since the visitors arrive here despite the advisories and frequent clashes in the valley with its live telecast worldwide.
As far as the domestic tourism is concerned, it has become a saviour for the tourism in the state. In India majority of the people want to be on a tour during summer holidays, when entire sub-continent simmers in torrid heat, Kashmir sets to be on top of the choice list of every young and old. People may curtail their lavish lifestyle yet touring is a habit which is hard to resist for avid travellers; with a slight compromise on standard of luxury or seeking short haul holiday destination in present economic scenario.
In our state 20 km off the national highway mostly brings you on to the zigzag roads of hilly areas where the roads are in pathetic condition. Roads leading to some tourist destinations of the state like Yousmarg , Doodh-Pather, Mansar ,Sanasar, Suru and Zanskar have a large portion either un-metalled or full of ditches and troughs. The snooty visitors usually curse the local bodies and the tour organiser; they also spread a word to other visitors about discomforts of the road.
Of late the transport sector in the valley has remained scarce; with hardly any state owned international standard coaches on the roads, some tourists usually find it amazing to observe no service of conducted tours for the famous tourist destinations. Private transporters mostly have the vehicles on bank loan that makes their situation precarious in badly hit tourist season. In such conditions role of state transport authorities for upgrading road transport on tourist sectors gets equally essential like other infrastructural development.
Tourism may not be the prime factor in state GDP ; it certainly is a linchpin for the state economy and its image making . All other sectors must put a cohesive effort to strengthen the tourism industry of the state which will result in development of their respective sectors immensely.
Kashmir has a beautiful face and elegant body, of course immortal; that’s what Almighty has bestowed us with; this charm and eternity would radiate with add-on of manmade marvels. Tourists today look for more than the natural beauty; it’s the time of theme parks and high-tech facilities. Tourism receiving markets have to deliver better facilities for a memorable experience of visitors; that even projects smart marketing, sharp branding and a sweet goodwill.
Basharat Rashid , Travel writer, email: basharat.rashid@gmail.com
About the Author
Basharat Rashid is the renowned Travel writer of J&K who has the first Travel Planner “Discover J&K’ to his credit.
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