Gala dinner to musical nights: Tourists make a beeline to Kashmir on Christmas, New Year Eve

As Christmas and New Year nears, Kashmir has emerged as the go-to destination for tourists with hotels in popular tourist spots like Gulmarg and Pahalgam reporting sold-out status.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Kashmir this year broke records of receiving maximum tourists as over 2 Crore tourists including 50,000 foreign guests arrived in Kashmir till November 30 this year.

Travel agents said the enquiries have increased for the last few weeks particularly for Christmas and New Year.

“The rush of tourists has increased in the last few weeks. We are expecting a further increase in the arrivals in coming weeks as tourists prefer to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Kashmir,” said President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir Rauf Ahmad Tramboo.

He said the hotels in Srinagar and Pahalgam are sold-out for both the occasions.

“We are equally witnessing a good demand for Srinagar as well. Gulmarg and Pahalgam are the spotlight for Christmas and New Year as multiple events are being held at both these destinations to enthral tourists,” Tramboo said.

He said travel agents as well as the hoteliers have made special arrangements for tourists for both these occasions.

“In Gulmarg and Pahalgam, hoteliers have made arrangements for musical evenings. So are the celebrations on New Year,” Tramboo said.

A hotelier said that the rush of tourists come from Maharashtrian and south India on Christmas and New Year in Kashmir.

“Usually, Maharashtrians and south Indians visit Kashmir on the eve of Christmas and New Year. We have introduced special packages for tourists, which include a gala dinner and other recreation. We hope to see a good flow of foreigners,” said Muneer Ahmad, a staff member at a hotel in Gulmarg.

Given the rush of tourists, airlines companies have hiked the airfare for Srinagar.

Currently, the airfare from New Delhi to Srinagar has hiked by more than 30 percent.

A one way ticket from New Delhi to Srinagar is sold at Rs 9000 per passenger. Normally the ticket for Srinagar from Delhi is sold at Rs 5000-6000