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Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, India (AHN) – Turning a new leaf in the tourism story of Jammu and Kashmir state of India, the state government is trying to invite traffic to the tourist hot spot. It is ready to do anything from upgrading the infrastructure, facilities and roads to facilitating eco-tourism at select locations.

Starting with Gulmarg, authorities plan to provide high-speed wireless Internet connections to hotels and lodges in the town. Speaking about the upgrade, Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani said Sunday, “The Wi-Fi system will keep Gulmarg connected to the rest of the world and will ensure that timely intervention is made to meet natural calamities like avalanches and road blockades.”

In addition, snow scooters will be made available to tourists by the Gulmarg Development Authority to add a new facet to the tourism activities.

All this is being done to turn Gulmarg into an international tourist destination at par with other ski resorts around the world. The recent upgrade plans were passed by the government to fulfill the criteria of the International Ski Federation (FIS) so that Gulmarg could be counted among the worldwide destinations for winter sports.

Among other major steps being taken to improve tourist facilities at Gulmarg is a Rs 18 crore (US$4 million) project to build a fixed-grip ski lift at Kangdoori mountain in Gulmarg, which will be constructed by French company Pomalgaski. Construction of the chair lift from Kangdoori to Marry Shoulder, another mountain top, is already in progress.

In addition, golf courses are being constructed at Gulmarg and Pahalgam to meet international standards.

To renew the tourist influx to the state, the government has also identified about 16,000 square kilometers to be targeted for development of eco-tourism under the Protected Area Network (PAN). The plan is currently under consideration by the Union Government.

Among the identified eco-tourism destinations in the state are Dachigam, Gulmarg, Thaj reserve and Aru in the Kashmir region, Nandini reserve, Ramnagar sanctuary and Jasrotia sanctuary in Jammu division and Hemis High Altitude national park, Changthang wildlife sanctuary, Tso Moriri, Tsokar and Pangon Tso in Ladakh region.

The government plans to set up five national parks, 14 wildlife sanctuaries and 35 conservation reserves across the locations, funds for which will be provided by the Union Tourism Ministry.

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Reported in Environmental Issue Stories follow this link for the rest of the article

photo credit: kashyap_hc

Farm owners and local citizens involved in boosting the success of their own local and regional economy and local farms may want to take agritourism very seriously.

Agritourism is a branch of eco-tourism. Interestingly, when done right, it flourishes when funds for travel are up, as well as when funds for travel are very low (explained more below).

It’s obvious why local farms would want to attract world travelers to their farms. Why not allow the revenue that would have gone to a petro-guzzling chain resort instead be offered for a stay in an extra farmhouse bedroom? Why not take some of the otherwise cruise ship tourist trap-destined travel bucks by hosting a regionally branded harvest festival or garden tour for the travelers who harbor nearby and want to come onto land for authentic attractions?

But in tough times for travelers, the new agritourism is a form of responsible or eco-travel that still works.

Agritourism is growing quickly around the world, and one exceptional model is in Skagit Valley, Washington State as well as on the valley’s nearby San Juan Islands. In the book, The New Agritourism (available at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, bookstores, and Amazon among other sources), I included a sampler of exemplary agritourism systems and destinations from around the world. But it wasn’t merely coincidence that my home region was strongly represented. And here it serves as just one concrete example for those seeking ways to support local food independence while helping to reverse global warming and traveling to sights yet unseen closer to home.

As the renaissance for local small farms grows, and the cost of food and travel heightens, folks have hit the jackpot if they can combine local entertainment with a sense of connection to abundant local food sources. And in the Skagit Valley and nearby islands, there are so many choices year-round for agritourism day trips, workshops, tours, tastings, festivals or overnight stays, one could live a lifetime here, and never see them all. The diverse natural surroundings from stunning alp-like mountains to fertile valleys to old-growth forests and emerald islands boast a huge array of agritourism events that other locations – whether desert or rolling hills or flat plains — can model after. Here, locals can join CSA (community supported agriculture), stop off at micro grass-fed raw goat dairies to get their own milk, pull over to a variety of tiny flower carts for a bouquet, milk dairy animals and enjoy u-pick autumn flower, pumpkin, ornamental gourd and apple harvests, tour organic vineyards, ranches and free-range laying hen farms, view artisan cheese-making, take courses on making your own cheese, gather your own filberts, pick your own holly and Christmas from small eco-responsible evergreen farms, take classes for cooking with lavender in the midst of lavender fields bursting with purple aroma, and of course, enjoy the stunning fields and fun events during the world-famous tulip festival.

The new agritourism, for many, is a potential gem rising from the ashes.

The New Agritourism: Hosting Community and Tourists on Your Farm is available in the Skagit Valley, Washington State at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com

And nationally and internationally through most bookstore outlets.

http://www.newagritourism.com

photo credit: René Ehrhardt

It seems like everyone is It  going green these days. The travel and tourism industry is no different. I’m sure you’ve noticed this trend in advertising and travel industry marketing. As crazy as it may sound, these are two areas where you may not think about green living, but enough people are becoming more aware of its implications to make going green with travel SEO a growing trend.

In other business niches, the idea of going green means big profits, which is another reason why so many hotels are embracing the notion of green travel marketing.

Unfortunately, there are a small number of people out there who don’t believe in global warming and the only reason that companies are going green with their online tourism marketing campaign is to get more money. All it takes is one trip to an exotic land to change their minds.

It’s those of us who believe in the harmful effects of climate change that online travel marketing ads geared towards green tourism is truly geared towards. The travel companies know that these people believe in their own personal responsibility to do what they can to protect the planet.

The internet marketing of tourism related to green tourism shouldn’t be confused with other types of vacations such as an adventure travel. These usually do harm to the environment. Eco-tourism on the other hand must satisfy a number of different criteria that pertain to both the traveler and the well being of the host community. Online tourism marketing, such as travel SEO, is normally built around much of these criteria, as well.

For those interesting in this type of vacation, online tourism marketing, like travel SEO, has begun to notice the idea of going green by providing different vacation options for people interested in protecting the planet. While not every vacation can be a green one, that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to depart on one every now and then. It is important to work within the boundaries you can manage. Pay attention to the different ads of internet marketing of tourism for ideas which may suit you.

For the traveler who online travel marketing is focused on, the main motivation of eco-tourism is always the observation and appreciation of both the local ecology and the local culture. It must always include educational and interpretation features. As the internet marketing of tourism describes, it must benefit the host community by being organized for small groups by local businesses.

It must always minimize the impact on both the natural and cultural environment, and generate income for the host land. Hopefully, you and your group will come away with an increased awareness of the need for conserving the community’s natural and cultural assets.

Online travel marketing companies know and understand this better than you may think. Why do you think there is such an increase lately in travel SEO? They are looking to help their customers and make a profit at the same time. It’s a win-win situation for everybody involved.

Search engine optimization is a specialty of Brandon Thomas. He has been providing SEO services and conducting internet marketing for the last ten years. In this article, Brandon discusses online tourism marketing.