Govt plans to extend tourist season Authorities asked to plan festivals in advance, develop new adventure destinations

Srinagar, : Jammu and Kashmir is planning to strengthen its year-round tourism strategy by organising festivals and cultural events in advance and developing new adventure tourism destinations, with a focus on attracting visitors during the off-season.

Officials said that directions have been passed to the concerned authorities to prepare a structured annual event calendar covering major festivals, cultural programmes and seasonal activities, while ensuring coordination among departments and wider publicity to attract tourists throughout the year.

The initiative aims to promote Kashmir’s diverse tourism offerings beyond the traditional peak season and create more opportunities for visitors to explore the region during different months.

As part of the strategy, the Tourism Department has been asked to intensify efforts to promote adventure activities, including trekking, paragliding, water sports, skiing and mountaineering.

Officials have also been directed to identify new trekking routes, strengthen safety measures and improve adventure tourism infrastructure to make the region more attractive to young travellers and tourists interested in specialised outdoor experiences.

The focus on adventure tourism is intended to broaden Kashmir’s tourism portfolio and help draw visitors during traditionally lean months, when tourist footfall generally depends on seasonal attractions and weather conditions.

The proposed annual event calendar is expected to provide a planned framework for tourism-related activities, allowing departments to prepare events in advance and coordinate arrangements for their effective organisation and promotion.

Officials said advance planning and coordinated publicity would be important to ensure that festivals, cultural events and seasonal activities reach a wider audience and contribute to sustained tourist engagement.

The directions underline the need to tap Kashmir’s varied natural and cultural attractions throughout the year, with adventure tourism emerging as an important component of efforts to extend the tourist season and attract new categories of visitors.