Srinagar, Feb 3: In what could give fillip to high-end tourism in the Kashmir Valley, the United Kingdom’s leading tabloid Daily Mail has featured picturesque Dal lake and houseboat in its “pick of the spectacular travel highlights in 2013” for its readers and recommending people to visit Kashmir.
 The tabloid has chosen different tourist destination across the world for the tourists intending to travel in 2013 and for the first time in the last 20-years name of Kashmir has been mentioned as “a tourist destination worth visiting.”
  “New holiday destinations in 2013 include the Indian state of Kashmir, with its snow-capped peaks, flower-strewn valleys and pine forests. Kashmir has been off-limits for decades because of violence but it is now safe to visit the summer capital, Srinagar. You can also stay on a houseboat on Dal Lake, with its stunning mountain backdrop,” reads the Daily Mail report.
 Pertinently, Britain recently lifted adverse travel advisory on visit to Kashmir that were in place for more than 20-years.
  “It is a significant development that will promote high-end tourism in the Kashmir valley,” said Director, Ahad Hotels and Resorts, Asif Burza.
 Burza said that Daily Mail “is a reputed tabloid throughout the world and recommending Kashmir as the destination to visit in 2013 is a good sign for the tourism sector here.”
 “It would create avenues for tourism players in JK to promote our destination in European countries,” he said 
 According to Burza, “tourists of European countries are showing interest in visiting JK and we are hopeful that after Germany and Britain other European countries will also lift travel advisories to its citizens intending to visit Kashmir.”
 Echoing similar views, Secretary General, Hoteliers Club, Musadiq Shah said that the move will help the J&K tourism sector in a big way.
 “Kashmir valley has a potential to woo high-end tourists and Daily Mail endorsing Kashmir as destination to visit, would encourage Europeans to come here and enjoy the beautiful locales,” Shah said.
 He added that it would boost employment generation in the Kashmir valley.
 Secretary, Houseboat Owners, Association Muhammad Rafi Karnai also appreciated the positive reportage by Daily Mail and said: “It would help the tourism sector in wooing high-end tourists in the Kashmir valley and subsequently will provide livelihood to many educated youth.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST