Government of Jammu and Kashmir Draft Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) and Annual Plan (2007-08)

Abstract

Whenever a reference is made to Jammu & Kashmir, what immediately comes to mind is a tourist paradise. Combining alpine grandeur with eastern charm, Kashmir Valley is often known as Switzerland of Asia. The majestic heights of its snow capped mountains, its picturesque scenery, its perennial rivers, vast lakes and lush green forests have often brought it the description of paradise on earth. The famous Sanskrit poet Kalidas had said ‘The place (Kashmir) is more beautiful than heaven and is the benefactor of supreme bliss and happiness. It seems to me that I am taking a bath in the lake of nectar here’. The Kashmir Valley has been a place of attraction to tourists for centuries. The Mughal emperors used to come to the Valley during summers. The number of tourists to the Valley had gone up to 7.22 lakh in 1988. However, the flow of tourists declined suddenly with the outbreak of militancy in the Valley. The tourist arrivals were just around 10 thousand per annum between 1990 and 1996. The tourism has revived with the decline in militancy and improvement in the security environment. The flow of tourists has registered a sharp increase in the last two to three years. It was recorded at 6.05 lakh in 2005.