As pandemic dips, Kashmir gears up to revive tourism

Tourism department proposes special vaccination drives for all stakeholders involved with the industry

From vaccinating 80% stakeholders to elaborate guidelines for hotels, the Tourism department in Kashmir has chalked out a meticulous plan to receive tourists again, as the second wave of coronavirus pandemic dips significantly. “We are working on two fronts for safe and secure means of reviving tourism, as the pandemic level is likely to dip further. First, special vaccination drives for all stakeholders involved with the tourism industry. Two, capacity building on protocols to handle tourists and ensure their safety during the stay in Kashmir,” Ahsan-ul-Haq Chisthi, Deputy Director in the Tourism department, told The Hindu. According to the department, around 75% tourism stakeholders, including shikarawalas, houseboat owners and hotel staff around the Dal lake, have been vaccinated. Similar vaccination drives were also conducted in tourist hotspots of Pahalgam and Gulmarg.