Srinagar, June 10 -- Government's decision to unlock Kashmir in a phased manner after a significant decline in daily coronavirus cases has given a ray of hope to the tourism players in the Valley who are reeling under acute financial losses from the last three years.

"Kashmir is ready to welcome tourists," Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez told Kashmir Observer on Thursday.

On June 6, over a month after the J&K government imposed a lockdown in the Valley and the restrictions caused the tourism industry to fall silent, the administration announced a phased withdrawal of Covid lockdown amid a decline in fatalities and positive cases.

The decision has exhilarated the tourism stakeholders as the Valley is once again set to receive tourists, ...