Couple of years ago, the Jammu Kashmir government opened new tourist destinations across Kashmir to decentralize the tourism economy. The economy was so far into the clutches of Srinagar only and a sizable portion of the populace was widely benefited out of it.
Now since the things have been changing in Kashmir positively following the constitutional reforms by the Union Government in 2019, the hope of prosperity has risen in the farthest portions of the valley.
The people in the border villages of Kashmir which till 2019 were no go zones are reaping the benefits of tourism. People from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are driving or riding bicycles to these pockets and enjoying the serene and virgin beauty of Kashmir.
Initially, anyone visiting these places were subjected to intense frisking and a cumbersome verification process. The roads once desolated and dotted with security personnel are now welcoming hundreds of tourists’ vehicles on a daily basis.
Those who were fed up with traditional tourist spots are now enjoying virgin places. But the people both-tourists and the locals, have grudges given the poor infrastructure. The available infrastructure doesn’t meet the required conditions for the sustainable growth of tourism and tourists complain of non-availability of toilets, eateries, and massive traffic jams on these routes.
This is not the end of their ordeal; the intense frisking at many places before they reach their destinations is yet again a headache for them who claim it consumes their lot of time and have little time to explore the destinations. There is a need to work on it and ensure no tourist goes through such inconveniences.
In case the tourists continue to complain, the time may soon come when they give up visiting such places which otherwise promises prosperity for the downtrodden people in these landlocked areas. At the same time, the government must promote homestay and build the required infrastructure in these areas.
Alongside that the locals must be trained to handle the guests professionally otherwise, such places which are far from the vigilance of the government emerge as top destinations for overcharging and mishandling of guests.
Soft skill training of local youth may not only help them to earn their livelihood but equally give a pleasant experience for the visitors.
