Srinagar, July 11: The border town of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is witnessing an unprecedented surge in tourist arrivals from across the country, marking a significant milestone in the region’s emergence as a border tourism destination. While the influx has brought fresh economic opportunities for local businesses, it has also exposed a shortage of accommodation facilities for visitors.
Local residents and tourism stakeholders said the increasing number of tourists has given a major boost to hotels, restaurants and other businesses in the area. However, they said many visitors are struggling to find accommodation, particularly during weekends and peak tourist periods.
They have urged the government to reopen the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) at Salamabad for overnight stays, saying the facility could help address the growing accommodation crunch.
The stakeholders appealed to Uri MLA Dr Sajjad Shafi to pursue the matter with the Tourism Department for the immediate operationalisation of the TRC’s accommodation and cafeteria facilities. They said reopening the centre would not only provide much-needed relief to tourists but also improve visitor amenities and further strengthen the government’s efforts to promote border tourism in the constituency.
“Tourists are coming to Uri in large numbers, but the lack of adequate accommodation is becoming a major challenge. The TRC at Salamabad should be made functional at the earliest so that visitors have a comfortable place to stay,” a local tourism stakeholder said.
Responding to the demand, MLA Uri Dr Sajjad Shafi said he has already taken up the issue with the government.
“I have raised the matter with the concerned authorities and requested them to make the facility operational for tourists. The reopening of the TRC will significantly improve tourism infrastructure in Uri,” he said.
The Tourist Reception Centre at Salamabad has remained largely non-functional since April 18, 2019 after the Ministry of Home Affairs indefinitely suspended cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade and bus services. The facility was primarily used to facilitate passengers and activities related to the cross-LoC confidence-building measures.
With Uri rapidly emerging as one of Kashmir’s prominent border tourism destinations, locals believe reopening the TRC could play a crucial role in meeting the growing demand for accommodation and enhancing the overall tourist experience.
