The Department of Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is undertaking a facelift the Gondola Lift, Asia's highest and longest cable car at 3980 meters above sea level, to boost tourism in the state.

The Kashmir Valley attracts foreign tourists and the Gondola in Gulmarg had been generating revenue in millions every year.

Recently, however, the place has been suffering from poor maintenance.

The Director of Kashmir Tourism, Talat Parvez, said the Gondola renovation would benefit tourists and also provide employment to locals.

"Because number of people visiting gondola increase day by day, so the chief minister wanted that the tourists who are our guests, should be contented and happy to visit the place," said Parvez.

"They should enjoy their visit and get full breathing space, there should be a waiting area where they can sit comfortably and wait for their turn to get on the ride. There should also be an orientation program to tell them about other places to visit in the valley," he added.

"They should be briefed about the technical know how of the cable car. There should be some tourism campaign about Kashmir while they are waiting. All these things should be conducted in a decent manner. More restaurants should be constructed to facilitate the tourists," said Parvez.

Amenities like food courts, shopping stall and a reception centre would be made, where tourists can wait for their turn and get information about the various tourist spots in the valley.

Tourism is one of the biggest means of earning for the people of the state and is said to be the bread earner of 60 percent of Kashmiris.

Sonal, a tourist from Mumbai, said the place needs to be more tourists friendly.

"We have seen other places where these kinds of facilities are offered, and being an Indian, I definitely would want better infrastructure," she said.

(You need to login first to read complete news).
New User? Register for FREE!
» Back to Travel News