Empty houseboats, vacant hotels and deserted resorts present a gloomy picture of Kashmir's tourism sector which is going through one of its worst phases due to the prevailing situation after the Centre abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution and reorganised the State into two Union Territories.
Kashmir has been facing unprecedented restrictions for nearly a month now, as normal life remains affected across the Valley with markets shut and public transport off the roads since August 5.
Days before announcing the decision on Article 370, the State Government had asked all tourists in Kashmir to leave the Valley. According to officials in the Tourist Department, about 20,000-25,000 visitors were present in the Valley, which was in its peak tourist season.
Since then, the Valley is without tourists, which has brought the industry — believed to be the backbone of Kashmir's economy — to its knees. Sonamarg — considered as the gateway to Ladakh region — is a picturesque resort in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district and usually remained crammed with visitors.
However, the resort looks deserted with most of the hotels, restaurants and shops closed for business.
A manager at a hotel here said the only business they had was of a few local visitors putting up for a night or two.
"We have not seen tourists for the last few weeks now. There were a few of them here even after the advisory by the government. But after they left, we have had no tourists here. Only locals come for a night or two and then leave," he said.
According to official figures, 1.74 lakh tourists visited Kashmir in June, followed by 1.52 lakh, including 3,403 foreigners, in July.
However, officials in the Tourism Department said the department has no record of tourist arrivals in August.
"We have no reports of any tourist arrival. There may have been a few of them, but we do not have any records," Nisar Ahmad Wani, director of tourism, Kashmir told PTI.
Another official of the department, on the condition of anonymity, said while the department keeps no record of the domestic tourists because of the advisory which asked the visitors to leave, about 800 foreign tourists have been registered for the month.
"The state's CID registers the foreigners, so that number is officially available. But, since there is a ban on tourists, the number of domestic tourist arrivals is not officially taken," he said.
Stakeholders said the chances of revival of tourism in the Valley were bleak this year.
"Summer season is our peak season and now the winter is approaching and it is considered a dull tourist season. With the situation as it is, we do not see much chances of any revival this year or till March," a travel agent said.
The famous Dal lake in Srinagar, which otherwise is a star attraction for the visitors, is calm and the only activity taking place there is of
some locals trying their hands at angling.