<p>With an increasing footfall of domestic and foreign visitors, tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is scaling new heights, making the Union Territory one of top destinations in the country.</p>.<p>"Year on year and month on month, we have received more tourists this year compared to previous year. We are ensuring that all domestic and international tourists have a memorable stay in Jammu and Kashmir," tourism department secretary Abid Rashid Shah told <em>PTI.</em></p>.<p>"It is the responsibility of all stakeholders of the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir to make it a warm and hospitable destination for all visitors," he said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/srinagar-s-tulip-garden-enthralls-25-lakh-tourists-in-20-days-1208030.html" target="_blank">Srinagar’s Tulip garden enthralls 2.5 lakh tourists in 20 days</a></strong></p>.<p>Jammu and Kashmir received 1.88 crore tourists in 2022, a high enough number for any region, but the administration is expecting still that the arrivals will breach the two crore-mark this year.</p>.<p>Tourism Director Fazlul Haseeb said the number of arrivals was high even before the onset of the regular tourism season in the valley.</p>.<p>"Every single month the tourist numbers are increasing. It's almost six lakh in the first four months … it's breaching records," Haseeb said.</p>.<p>Popular mostly with honeymooners once, Kashmir is now attracting even long-married couples, who are coming to celebrate their anniversaries here.</p>.<p>"Today is our 24th anniversary, the reason why we booked this trip. I am feeling good," Kavita Katay from Pune said.</p>.<p>Kavita's husband Govind said it was his idea to celebrate the anniversary in Kashmir.</p>.<p>"It was my plan to celebrate our 24th marriage anniversary in Kashmir. The climate is good here. My friends had been here and they suggested I visit Kashmir. The situation is fine here, not like before," he said.</p>.<p>Vidyadhar from Karnataka found Kashmir safe for tourists and was certain the valley now had peace.</p>.<p>"We have been here for the last four days. The situation is absolutely normal here. I also feel Kashmir is a safe place for travellers and there are a lot of tourists here. The people, and their hospitality, are amazing," she said.</p>.<p>Vishwanath, another tourist from Karnataka, was just happy to escape the scorching heat of the plains and be with the mist shrouded mountains of Kashmir.</p>.<p>"Back where I come from, the temperature is hovering at 40 to 45 degree Celsius. Here it is three to 10 degree Celsius. We felt very good … those who have not visited Kashmir, we suggest they should," he said.</p>.<p>Abhilasha from Nagpur has been visiting Kashmir once every 10 years.</p>.<p>"This is my third trip to Kashmir. My first visit was in 2004 and then again in 2013. Today, I am here with my whole family. Kashmir is really a beautiful place, people are very nice. That is the reason we visited so many times here," she said.</p>
<p>With an increasing footfall of domestic and foreign visitors, tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is scaling new heights, making the Union Territory one of top destinations in the country.</p>.<p>"Year on year and month on month, we have received more tourists this year compared to previous year. We are ensuring that all domestic and international tourists have a memorable stay in Jammu and Kashmir," tourism department secretary Abid Rashid Shah told <em>PTI.</em></p>.<p>"It is the responsibility of all stakeholders of the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir to make it a warm and hospitable destination for all visitors," he said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/srinagar-s-tulip-garden-enthralls-25-lakh-tourists-in-20-days-1208030.html" target="_blank">Srinagar’s Tulip garden enthralls 2.5 lakh tourists in 20 days</a></strong></p>.<p>Jammu and Kashmir received 1.88 crore tourists in 2022, a high enough number for any region, but the administration is expecting still that the arrivals will breach the two crore-mark this year.</p>.<p>Tourism Director Fazlul Haseeb said the number of arrivals was high even before the onset of the regular tourism season in the valley.</p>.<p>"Every single month the tourist numbers are increasing. It's almost six lakh in the first four months … it's breaching records," Haseeb said.</p>.<p>Popular mostly with honeymooners once, Kashmir is now attracting even long-married couples, who are coming to celebrate their anniversaries here.</p>.<p>"Today is our 24th anniversary, the reason why we booked this trip. I am feeling good," Kavita Katay from Pune said.</p>.<p>Kavita's husband Govind said it was his idea to celebrate the anniversary in Kashmir.</p>.<p>"It was my plan to celebrate our 24th marriage anniversary in Kashmir. The climate is good here. My friends had been here and they suggested I visit Kashmir. The situation is fine here, not like before," he said.</p>.<p>Vidyadhar from Karnataka found Kashmir safe for tourists and was certain the valley now had peace.</p>.<p>"We have been here for the last four days. The situation is absolutely normal here. I also feel Kashmir is a safe place for travellers and there are a lot of tourists here. The people, and their hospitality, are amazing," she said.</p>.<p>Vishwanath, another tourist from Karnataka, was just happy to escape the scorching heat of the plains and be with the mist shrouded mountains of Kashmir.</p>.<p>"Back where I come from, the temperature is hovering at 40 to 45 degree Celsius. Here it is three to 10 degree Celsius. We felt very good … those who have not visited Kashmir, we suggest they should," he said.</p>.<p>Abhilasha from Nagpur has been visiting Kashmir once every 10 years.</p>.<p>"This is my third trip to Kashmir. My first visit was in 2004 and then again in 2013. Today, I am here with my whole family. Kashmir is really a beautiful place, people are very nice. That is the reason we visited so many times here," she said.</p>