SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that the government is expecting a record break tourist footfall of over 2 crore this year.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Sempora, LG Sinha, said that last year, a record number of 1.88 crore tourists visited J&K.
“We are breaking our own records as we are expecting a footfall of over 2 crore tourists this year,” he said.
He added that several Bollywood movies were shot in Jammu & Kashmir last year and this year administration will break its record as more movies will be shot.
Earlier, LG Sinha attended foundation stone laying ceremony for medical college and hospital of Milli Trust.
While praising the trust, he said that more than 150 students, who were pursuing their studies outside, can pursue their studies here now.
He added that such projects will help in increasing the investments and employment avenues. (KNO)
Srinagar, Apr 27: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that the government is expecting a record break tourist footfall of over 2 crore this year.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Sempora, LG Sinha, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that last year, a record number of 1.88 crore tourists visited J&K.
“We are breaking our own records as we are expecting a footfall of over 2 crore tourists this year,” he said.
He added that several Bollywood movies were shot in Jammu & Kashmir last year and this year administration will break its record as more movies will be shot.
Earlier, LG Sinha attended foundation stone laying ceremony for medical college and hospital of Milli Trust.
While praising the trust, he said that more that 150 students, who were pursuing their studies outside, can pursue their studies here now.
He added that such projects will help in increasing the investments and employment avenues—(KNO)
Luiza Kosykh claims she didn’t know the 700-year-old tree she posed naked in front of was sacred. However, the viral shot captured by the Russian national in Bali was enough to infuriate the local community and resulted in her swift arrest and deportation.
The case is one of a growing number of incidents involving unruly visitors, as tensions between foreign influencers and locals on the Indonesian island reach boiling point.
Once known as a laid-back surfer’s paradise, Bali has in recent years become a popular backdrop for “content creators” looking to promote their picture-perfect lifestyles. The streets of towns like Canggu and Ubud are now lined with aesthetically pleasing cafes and bohemian clothes stores seen as perfect settings for attracting Instagram and TikTok likes.
According to the local bureau of statistics, the number of foreign visitors entering Bali jumped to more than 300,000 every month at the start of 2023. The numbers were dominated by Australian nationals, as well as Indian and Russian tourists. A byproduct of the uptick in tourism has been more traffic, construction and pollution. These shifting dynamics, combined with a perceived lack of respect for Bali’s Hindu culture and beliefs shown by some influencers, has prompted the local community to take action.
Russian Luiza Kosykh (wearing face mask) being brought to a press conference at the immigration office in Denpasar, Bali, before being deported. Photograph: Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images
“Our hospitality has been taken for granted,” Niluh Djelantik, a Balinese business owner and activist, told the Guardian.
Referring to a video of a foreigner riding a motorbike around Bali while standing on the seat, Djelantik says: “If you wouldn’t do these things in your own country, don’t do it in Bali.
“Don’t blame us if we take action, don’t blame us if we speak up, don’t blame us if we stand up and … tell you it has to stop.”
Short-term “business or tourism visas” that cost about 3m rupiahs (£162/$202) and allow foreigners to remain in the country for six months have served as a loophole for thousands of digital nomads who have made Bali home without paying taxes, adding to tension among some locals who feel the visitors are not contributing.
“A lot of people stay long-term without the right visa and they promote this remote lifestyle,” says Rosie Lakusa, founder of Wings Canggu restaurant. The 29-year-old says the situation is complex and a symptom of mass tourism.
Examples of tourists coming under fire for their behaviour have increased. Russian influencer Alina Fazleeva was forced to undertake a cleansing ceremony before deportation after posing naked at a holy site in 2022. The same year, immigration officials stepped in after Canadian actor Jeffrey Craigen filmed himself performing the haka ceremonial dance naked at Bali’s Mount Batur.
‘Respect each other’
The behaviour of some foreigners has given rise to a number of vigilante social media pages that monitor influencers and bad “bules” – a term often used by Balinese to refer to western foreigners.
These sites share footage of reckless behaviour and identify foreigners who are working illegally, while calling on local authorities to take action. Such pages often have a large following and posts tend to be filled with comments from frustrated locals.
An official response to the bad behaviour was proposed by Bali’s governor, Wayan Koster, last month, which included restricting tourists renting motorbikes.
As well as “disrespectful” behaviour, other frustrations have emerged as digital nomads multiply and work opportunities become competitive.
The cafes of towns like Ubud are seen as perfect backgrounds for Instagram and TikTok Photograph: JS Callahan/tropicalpix/Alamy
Ketut Widiartawan, 33, is the owner of Bali Green surf school and runs the popular Instagram account Northsidestory. In the past few years, he’s seen competition stiffen among small businesses. “It’s almost competing with locals,” Ketut says in reference to foreigners who decide to take up work in Bali without the right paperwork.
“It’s no problem if you make a business here, it’s good that you employ locals,” he added, “but some of them are not doing it in the right way.”
As tourism makes up the largest part of Bali’s GDP, officials have been forced to balance maintaining the island’s allure while taking a hard line on bad behaviour. However, some feel tougher entry requirements are needed. “The government needs to step in,” Djelantik says. “They need to wake up.”
Despite tensions, Ketut stresses that the issues are confined to a small number of visitors. “Not all of the tourists coming here are like that. There are also so many nice people coming here and supporting local businesses.”
Ketut called on locals and foreigners to “respect each other”.
“I just hope that Bali isn’t destroyed. There’s so many new resorts all the time. Hopefully Bali doesn’t lose its beauty and culture.”
Lakusa too wants tourists to come to Bali to appreciate its “amazing culture and amazing nature … and learn about us”.
“We’re very nice people if you’re nice to us. Bali is supposed to be laid back. Just live a simple life, don’t complicate it.”
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( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
The crew of speeding boat rescuing the tourists caught in Bhagmati boat at Hussain Sagar lake during thunder storms on Tuesday in city.
Hyderabad: Panic prevailed at Hussain Sagar Lake after 40 tourists on the Bhagmati boat were caught in a thunderstorm and gusty winds. However, the alert crew of speeding boats successfully rescued everyone and brought the boat safely to shore.
As per routine, the famous Bhagmati boat started its journey from the Buddha statue at 5 pm on Tuesday evening. However, heavy thunderstorms fraught with gusty winds started, causing the boat to go out of control and get washed away in another direction, leading to panic among the tourists.
Sensing trouble, the crew of speeding boats swung into action and successfully brought the boat to shore. “The boat suddenly stopped working due to unexpected inclement weather. However, the persons traveling on the boat were safe,” said a senior police official of the Central Zone police.
Since the video of the Bhagmati boat, which is operated by the Telangana Tourism Department, went viral on social media, it has created ripples among the public.
SRINAGAR: The Gondola cable car project in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district was kept open for tourists on the occasion of Eid.
The Managing Director of Cable Car Corporation, Ghulam Jeelan Zargar, stated that as a welcome gesture to tourists, the Gulmarg gondola was kept open on Eid day for the first time in history.
He also mentioned that many tourists might get disappointed as they may not get tickets due to heavy rush and unexpected demand. However, the management, under the guidance of Secretary of Tourism Abid Rasheed Shah, decided to keep the gondola open even on Eid Day.
Accordingly, full-day commercial operations were conducted. (KNS)
Srinagar, Apr 21: At least six persons including 5 tourists were injured after a vehicle skidded off road in Pahalgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that 5 tourists and a local driver were injured after their vehicle skidded off road in Pahalgam.
He said soon after the incident all the injured were taken GMC Anantnag for treatment. “All the injured are stable,” he said—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: At least six persons including five tourists were injured after a vehicle skidded off road in Pahalgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday.
Quoting an official, KNO reported that five tourists and a local driver were injured after their vehicle skidded off road in Pahalgam.
He said soon after the incident all the injured were taken GMC Anantnag for treatment. “All the injured are stable,” he said.
SRINAGAR: At least 28 tourists from Mumbai were caught with fake Gondola tickets at famous ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said on Friday. The tourists, they said, were given these fake tickets by their tour operator in Mumbai.
In an official statement, a spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) said the ticket scanning team of Gulmarg Gondola Project got hold of a group of 28 passengers from Mumbai at the scanning point of Gulmarg Gondola station.
“These passengers were carrying edited fake tickets through their tour Manager Makrand Anand Ghanekar S/o Anand Ghanekar of Mumbai,” reads the statement.
It reads, “We have an inbuilt system of dealing with such type of cases in place at Gulmarg Gondola Project. Our team of officers at the project handled this case in a meticulous manner and it was confessed by the tour Manager that he had himself edited these tickets at Mumbai and the passengers were not aware about this illegal activity.”
It added it was made sure by our officers that the passengers do not suffer because of the ill plans of tour company. “A written complaint was obtained from the passengers who had been cheated by tour company namely Veene World Mumbai. The case along with all the details, Proofs, witnesses and the culprit were handed over to SHO Gulmarg by Incharge Gulmarg Gondola Project Showkat Ahmad Bhat for taking further necessary action in the matter.”
As per the statement the management of JKCCC in general and local management of Gulmarg Gondola in particular are putting up extreme efforts to make the ticketing system user friendly and more transparent.
“All these efforts are being made to ensure that the passengers do not suffer and do not feel inconvenience and leave as ambassadors of tourism department of J-K all over the country.” (KNS)
SRINAGAR: The Tulip Garden in Srinagar has witnessed a rush of nearly 2.50 lakh tourists, including domestic and foreign visitors, in the last 20 days. The garden was opened for the public on March 20, 2023, and recorded a huge influx of tourists in the first week.
According to Floriculture Officer Shayiq Rasool, 2,49,433 tourists have visited the garden since its opening. He mentioned that there has been a rise in the number of foreign tourists, with 1,248 foreign tourists visiting the garden so far compared to only 150 last year.
The officers have informed that over 50,000 locals have visited the Tulip garden so far, with a total of 51,008 people having visited the garden this year. Additionally, they reported that 197,177 tourists from various parts of the country visited the garden in the last 20 days.
Notably, a few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that Jammu and Kashmir is beautiful, particularly during the Tulip season. In response to the Srinagar District Administration’s tweet about the blooming of the Tulip garden located in the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, adjacent to Dal Lake in Srinagar, the Prime Minister tweeted, “Jammu and Kashmir is beautiful, and even more so during the Tulip season.” (KNO)
New Delhi: India received 6.19 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compared to 1.52 million during the same period of 2021.
There were 10.93 million FTAs in India during the pre-pandemic year 2019.
The Tourism Industry has shown good signs of revival after Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Tourism under its Schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan’, ‘PRASHAD’ and Assistance to Central Agencies, provides central financial assistance to the state governments, Union territories and Central agencies for development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities to provide an enriching tourism experience to visitors in a planned and phased manner.
The Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24×7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 languages, including 10 international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi and English for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in term of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress while travelling in India.
According to a written reply in Parliament on April 6, the Ministry of Tourism has taken several initiatives to give a boost to the tourism sector in the country and to increase foreign tourist arrivals. It launched the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative with the objective of creating awareness among the citizens about the rich heritage and culture of the country and encouraging citizens to travel within the country. It is conducting programmes under the ‘Capacity Building for Service Providers’ (CBSP) Scheme to train and upgrade manpower to provide better service standards.
It also launched Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme, a digital initiative that aims at creating an online learning platform with the objective of creating a pool of well trained professional tourist facilitators across the country to support tourists.
