London: Reflecting the general easing of tension and restoration of normalcy, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a steady inflow of tourists, both from India and abroad, and commencement of location shooting by film producers from Mumbai and Chennai this year, the state Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed said in London.

"As of September 2003, Kashmir received over 160,000 tourists, including about 55,000 foreigners, a quantum jump from the previous year's dismissal figure of 18,530 arrivals," Mufti told reporters.

Mufti, who is in London on a week-long visit to participate in the World Travel Market said many film producers from Mumbai and Chennai also did location shooting at Pahalgam and Gulmarg and some of them spent a month to 45 days.

"There has been a change for the better and it is the will of the people. People want normalcy and people want peace after nearly a decade long militants onslaught," he stated.

The Chief Minister said more than 1.54 lakh devotees participated in the Amarnath Yatra this year, which passed off without a single incident.

"These pilgrims came from almost every part of India and many even from abroad. Similarly, Ladakh recorded the highest-ever arrival figure of the last 10 years, receiving nearly 25,000 tourists as of August this year.

PTI