J&K Govt Explores Skiing Potential at 7 New Tourist destinations
Jammu: Buoyed by the increased tourist footfall in the region, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated the process to assess the feasibility of skiing at seven new tourist destinations-four in Kashmir and three in the Jammu region.
As per official data, a record 2.95 million tourists visited the Union Territory in the year 2024, up from 2.71 million visitors in 2023, and 2.67 million in the preceding year (2022).
Syed Qamar Sajjad, MD, Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC), told the Excelsior, “For this purpose (assessing feasibility of skiing at new destinations), we have floated the tenders in order to take the services of the interested consultancy firm(s).”
“The qualified bidders will be tasked with carrying out the inspection of all the new sites and conduct an assessment of skiing, considering various factors, like tourist footfall in the particular area, duration of snowfall in that area, snow longevity, slope of the particular area, among other factors,” he said.
In Jammu region, the only drag lift installed at Padri area of Bhaderwah in Doda District remains non-functional for most parts of the winters due to lack of proper connectivity to the area. With the improvement of the connectivity, the footfall of the skiing enthusiasts to this area will also see manifolds increase.
Pertinently, a “drag lift” is a basic ski lift where skiers hold onto a moving cable to be pulled up the slope, typically used on beginner runs, while a “ski lift” can refer to any mechanism used to transport skiers uphill, including chairlifts, gondolas, and drag lifts. (Daily Excelsior)
