There is a way the tourism players across the world describes the natives who visit the places in the countryside for a one day excursion-they are called ‘locals’. The locals also contribute a great deal in the economy of the UT as their number defines how much hard cash flows in the market. This fresh cash keeps the market buoyant and is vital for tourism sector, which suffered badly from last two years.
In Kashmir we have witnessed the phenomenon of over-tourism of a lot of famed tourist spots like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Drang and other places. The locals literally capture these spots almost every day and they resemble like small towns in the countryside. These days these serene picnic spots witness a lot of scuffles, eve teasing, and obviously over-crowding. People litter beverage cans, masks, chips packets and the left out food as and where they want to leave it. It looks there is no proper monitoring of the establishment at these places.
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Of late we have also witnessed a lot occurring at these places. A lot of people have been seen gambling up there. Besides, a lot of bootleggers are seen boozing amidst the crowd under full public gaze. Young men flaunt their beer cans as if it is some kind of a trophy. Even in some places you can inhale the smoke of weed which the young men joyfully indulge in.
All this is killing the spirit of picnic. Many families are now avoiding these picnic spots due to this. The authorities need to crack down on all the anti-social activities happening at these picnic spots so that every gentleman would feel secure to take his family on a picnic.
The problem of over-tourism can be solved to a large extent by popularizing other virgin places so that some rush of people is diverted to other places also. It would help each and every region of Kashmir to earn livelihood and besides we can maintain the sanctity of these places.
