The continued cold weather in Kashmir coupled with shortage of essential commodities including kerosene and LPG has forced many tourists to cut short their stays in the Valley.

“Much hyped Winter Tourism has fallen flat due to the persistent cold weather, closure of Srinagar-Jammu Highway and absence of essential commodities,” tourism traders here said as per a report in GreaterKashmir.com by Mukeet Akmali.

“The shortage of essential commodities like LPG and kerosene has created problems for the hoteliers and houseboat owners who in absence of these things could not provide heating facilities to the tourists,” they said.

President, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) Siraj Ahmad said the cold weather had severe impact on the winter tourism. “We were hoping that this year winter tourism will be better than the previous year, but the cold weather, lack of basic facilities like water, electricity and LPG at tourist spots have severely impacted the tourism.”

Chairman Houseboat Owner Association (HBOA) Muhammad Azim Tuman said: “The lackadaisical approach of the government and absence of basic facilities has made the tourists cut short their stays in the Valley.”

Tuman added that while Kashmiris find it difficult to live under this harsh cold, how can tourists stay here without basic facilities.  He said the tourists who were scheduled to visit the Valley have delayed their tours. 

“People living outside the Valley are not used to this kind of cold weather and when they hear about the situation here , they prefer to stay back,” said President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCIK) Afzal Parray said.