The Kashmir valley’s tourism sector has taken a hit yet again in the wake of widespread protests that have erupted after the recent killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The sector had remained badly affected after the September 2014 floods, but started on the revival path this year.
Now, the law and order situation has led to large-scale cancellation of bookings and stakeholders are more worried because tourists are leaving the Valley hurriedly at present.
While some tourists are stranded, others have been leaving at night or in the wee hours. Stakeholders fear that they will carry a negative message outside the Valley that will not augur well for the tourism sector.
“Arrivals usually started dipping after June 15, but this year, due to efforts of the Tourism Department, we were having a good season even in July. Many tourists had come here, but they had to leave in the middle of the night,” said Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, president of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Last year, a flood scare on two occasions had forced cancellation of tourist bookings. Later, the Tourism Department had stepped up its campaign to woo tourists to clear the image about Kashmir.
Private tourism players had blamed the national electronic media for portraying a ‘negative image’ of Kashmir post floods.
The state government, along with the support of private players, then held several events across the country to tell tourists that Kashmir was a safe destination.
To promote Kashmir tourism through Bollywood, then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had met several actors, producers and directors in Mumbai and invited them to shoot movies in the Valley.
Bollywood crews had started arriving to shoot movies, but the tourism sector would now have to start from scratch once more.
“This year, the tourist season was good and we were hoping that some Amarnath yatris would stay back for sightseeing. But now, I guess we will have to start from scratch yet again,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a hotelier.
Peerzada Zahoor, Deputy Director, Tourism, Kashmir, said the authorities were doing their best to facilitate stranded tourists. “We are doing our best to facilitate the tourists. Senior tourism officials are personally paying visits to the airport and other places to ensure that tourists do not face any problems,” he said.
Kashmir Tourism again on back foot
