Lack of facilities biggest hindrance:
Throwing Sonmarg open for tourists during winter season
Sonmarg, Oct 29, KNT: From Last so many years government only prefers to promote Gulmarg and Pahalgam and neglects Sonamarg, said visiting tourists at Sonamarg Health Resort of Central Kashmiri,s Ganderbal District.
A tourist from Mumbai Ravi Kumar said that he has seen Tourism Department holds events in Mumbai and other states of country to attract tourists but the department has failed to upgrade infrastructure at tourist spots back in Kashmir.
Kumar said he saw Sonamarg has a huge potential for the winter tourism particularly the adventure tourism but the government has failed to tap its potential as lack of winter facilities. Sonamarg has been bestowed with the best of the ingredients like water, air and surface required for the adventure tourism, Kumar told news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Another tourist Churni Papanikal from Kerala said he had heard that this year Sonamarg could remain open for winter season. “I have visited Sonamarg in 2014 and 2016 but was stopped at Gagangeer Checkpost and thus returned back with huge disappointment.” He said though Government has announced opening of Sonamarg this year they should also offer all sort of facilities to the tourists.
“Being a tour operator I came Sonamarg to check winter preparation but here my vehicle was trapped in few inches of snow. It was police that helped me. I don’t think the existing facilities can attracts tourists here,” he said.
Muhammad Shafi, a Sumo Driver said recent snowfall have raised several questions. He said no snow clearance machines were available during peak hours with these dozens of tourists suffered. He said it was police that cleared roads after hard efforts.
Local traders and hoteliers appealed Government to equip Sonmarg with all kinds of facilities so that Sonamarg Valley could remain open this winter season. (KNT)
