Border Tourism: Kupwara sees 2 lakh visitors this year, says Secy Tourism

Tasaduq Hussain

Kupwara, Dec 29 Witnessing a footfall of two lakh visitors, the government Friday said that Kupwara is expected to become a tourist hotspot with infrastructure being readied for the same.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, the Secretary Tourism Syed Abid Rasheed Shah as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that not just one but each tourist destination in Kupwara is extremely beautiful.

He said that this year over 100,000 tourists visited Keran and over 50,000 visitors visited Karnah.

He said that Bungus alone reported close to 50000-60,000 tourists this year. About Lolab, he said that visitors in thousands of numbers visited there.

He assured that the infrastructure development required will definitely be addressed soon.

Shah also said that these places were not promoted like this before on national and international platforms.

Referring to Lolab, Bungus, and Keran he said that these places were promoted by the department resulting in increasing tourist footfall to these places.

The basic developmental programme applied in Kupwara, he said is homestays and everyone should come up and collaborate with the tourism department to take part in tourism-related activities. "We can help the aspiring youth with Mudra loan schemes and educate them about homestay facilities. We believe that the tourism potential of this district is further explored.

"The dream of Kupwara becoming a tourist hub shall be realized very soon and it will prove to be employment generating," he said.

Shah said that there are about 2.2 million people associated with tourism-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir. "Kupwara will be the hotspot of tourism in times to come."

Kupwara is a famous place not only in the region but across the country. He said that recently Lolab bagged the best offbeat tourist destination which is a great sign. "The people of Kupwara have always been extremely positive and even in terms of governance this district will be a great example in time to come. We hope that the aims of VBSY are achieved by connecting the unconnected and making sure to generate awareness regarding central government-run schemes."

"I hope that all the objectives of the program have been fulfilled for the good of people. Far-off places like Keran, Tangdhar, Machil, and others with tough terrain were covered in this program which depicts the commitment of administration and people of Kupwara," he said. "Despite harsh climatic and geographical conditions, this yatra was a success in this border district with people of this district taking part in it in numbers."—(KNO)