Tourism players say the early snowfall can help revive confidence among visitors and draw them back to Kashmir’s winter attractions.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Srinagar: The famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district received its first snowfall of the season on Thursday, with the majestic Afarwat peak draped in white.
The spell of snow not only lowered temperatures across the Valley but also lifted the spirits of Kashmir’s struggling tourism industry, which has been reeling since the Pahalgam terror attack in April that cast a shadow on Kashmir’s peak summer season, leading to mass cancellations and extended closure of tourist spots.
Tourism players said the early snowfall could help revive confidence among visitors and draw them back to Kashmir’s winter attractions. “We are hopeful that this snowfall will bring tourists in large numbers. Gulmarg has always been the heart of our winter tourism, and after months of uncertainty, we see this as a fresh beginning,” said a hotelier in the resort town.
The attack in Pahalgam led to an extended closure of tourist spots such as Betaab Valley and Aru Valley. Although the government reopened several destinations in September, hoteliers and traders complained that footfall was yet to recover.
“With Gulmarg getting snow, there is renewed buzz. Skiing, snowboarding and winter trekking have always been Kashmir’s strongest draws. This could be the revival moment the industry has been waiting for,” said a tour operator in Srinagar.
The Meteorological Department has, meanwhile, issued an advisory, warning of snowfall, rainfall and associated hazards in the coming days, especially in higher reaches. Authorities have urged people in hilly areas to remain alert to possible road blockades and landslides.
The advisory, issued on Friday, said that a strong western disturbance is approaching Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining areas, under whose effect light to moderate rain in the plains and snow in the higher reaches is likely to occur from October 4 to 7, with peak activity during the night of October 5 to the morning of October 7.
For now, the sight of tourists clicking pictures against snow-clad slopes has injected optimism into Gulmarg’s tourism-linked economy — a much-needed boost after a difficult summer.