Tourism needs more impetus
It has been almost five months since terrorists struck at Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley and killed 26 innocent tourists in an attack that shook the entire country.
Since then the tourism sector has been witnessing a huge slump and even after the passage of five months the situation remains the same with no signs of improvement being observed.
All this is happening despite repeated promotional campaigns and government efforts to revive Kashmir’s tourism and the sector remains paralysed, with tour operators, hoteliers, and houseboat owners warning of a looming crisis.
Hoteliers and those who depend on tourism trade say that the situation has reached a breaking point. Many admitted they are now forced to quit the profession and look for alternative livelihoods as there has been no revival in sight.
Kashmir’s iconic Dal Lake which never witnessed such a slump in tourist footfalls, too awaits the tourists as the houseboats stand silent and empty in the still waters of the famed Lake.
Notably, Kashmir still continues to be promoted as a prime destination but the ground reality paints a grim picture. Campaigns look good on paper, but they have not translated into arrivals.
Tourism, though contested by many forms the backbone of the region’s economy. If tourism thrives, so does trade and other related activities here. Kashmir is a geographically landlocked region and our dependence for our livelihood on outside world is huge.
Tourism is one such activity that engages almost half of the region’s population providing them opportunities to earn and grow in the meanwhile.
But as of now the sector paints a grim picture, hotels have been lying vacant. Cab owners have been forced to sell of their vehicles which they have purchased availing loans from banks and traders too have been deprived of the daily earnings.
As of today if the situation does not improve in the coming two or three weeks, Kashmir may witness an autumn that won’t see tourists walking through the golden meadows of the valley or walking silently along the banks of the Dal Lake and enjoy the crumbling of Chinar leaves under their footsteps.
With many campaigns and promotional activities being planned by the authorities, it is the political leadership that has to take a step forward and help the industry to see some revival at the fag end of the year.
The trade body Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s appeal to the Prime Minister to celebrate Diwali in the green environs of Kashmir Valley can prove one such step that will help the tourism sector to start chugging along.
