Booking flights, homestays in J&K got easier; 3 engineering students unveil app

29 August 2023

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Srinagar, Aug 28: Amid the tourism boom in Kashmir, three young engineering students from the valley have come up with a unique mobile application to provide a platform for the aspiring visitors for booking tickets as well as managing the homestays for them in the Valley.

Pertinently, J&K is recording a surge in the footfall of tourists since 2021 ending as the record-breaking 1.80 crore tourists from different parts of the country have visited the Union Territory in 2022. The government is this year expecting a further boom in footfall, stating that the figure of 2022 is expected to be surpassed in 2023.

To provide a platform just a click away, three youngsters from Kashmir Aabid Ahmad Dar, Adil Qayoom—both residents of Nagam Chadoora in Budgam district and Umer Hussain from Anantnag KP Road, Engineering background students, have developed a mobile application ‘Ticket Dekho’ with an aim to make the trip of every aspiring visitor to J&K easy.

“At present, the application is functional and helps the aspiring visitors to book flights, but within a month, we are expecting to provide another benefit of booking homestays for the tourists and the work in this regard has already been started,” Umar Hussain, one among the developers told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that “Ticket Dekho’ will help the visitors to book flights for clients at reasonable and lower than online rates. “The application can be used by both visitors as well as the travel agents,” Hussain, who is 25-year-old and has done B Tech Computer Science engineering, added.

Aabid Ahmad Dar, another developer said that they have developed a b2b flight booking portal just a month ago and now they have come up with a mobile application to provide more benefits and assistance to the people at their doorsteps, which would help in a way to boost the tourism sector here further.

“We are working to provide a platform to valley based homestay owners, Shikara and houseboat owners. We will digitize them with robust technology,” 26-year-old Dar, who has done M Tech Civil engineering, he said, adding that they have been thinking beyond government jobs and instead are preparing themselves to become job providers.

“We are planning to hire a team of at least 10 people by next month, who can join us to expand our initiative further,” he said.

25-year-old Adil Qayoom, who has done B Tech Civil engineering and is one among the developers said that they have come up with an initiative to provide a smooth platform for homestay owners, which would help them in boosting their business to a great extent.

“We are also on the way to launch an application for customers next month,” Qayoom said.

“Our next mission is to create a digital haven for home stay owners, Shikara operators, and houseboat proprietors. This visionary platform is aimed to bring the unique experiences of the valley to travelers worldwide, while also providing a sustainable source of income for local residents,” he said.

—(KNO)