Srinagar, May 18
After suffering huge losses for three consecutive years, houseboat owners in Srinagar city are these days reaping the benefit of prevailing peace in the Valley. The houseboats in the Dal Lake and the Nageen Lake are fully booked with domestic and foreign tourists these days.

“We suffered huge losses running into several crores during the past three years, but so far this year the trend has been very good and we are seeing a huge inflow of tourists,” said Ghulam Mohammed, secretary of the Kashmir Houseboat Association.

He said, “Most of the houseboats have been booked in advance for the next two months and tourists have been making inquiries about the vacant slots for reserving houseboats”.

For tourists visiting Kashmir, houseboats are considered to be the most luxurious place to stay. A night stay for two people in a houseboat could range anywhere between Rs 2,500 and Rs 10,000. “I had heard and read a lot about the houseboats and I had been planning to visit Kashmir for the past many years. Our government had issued an advisory against visiting the Valley and that was why I postponed my visit several times,” said Andrew Lucas, a British national. He says as soon as he got to know that the situation in the Kashmir Valley was calm this year, he decided to come here along with his family.

Not only foreigners, but also domestic tourists, who have arrived in Kashmir to escape the heat of the plains, are enjoying their stay in the houseboats. “It is a wonderful experience and everyone should visit the place at least once,” said Urmila, a tourist from Mumbai.

Houseboat owners are also hoping that peace continues to reign in the Valley. “Peace is a must for the progress of the people of Kashmir. Unrest of the last three consecutive years had broken our back. This year we are hoping for a good tourist season in the Valley,” said Ali Mohammad, a houseboat owner.