All major economic sectors in Kashmir are expecting the revival since the COVID related restrictions have been lifted and the pandemic is gradually subsiding.
It is undeniably true that all major and minor sectors of the economy suffered massive losses in the last two years after the pandemic outbreak. Kashmir which has tourism as second main sector after horticulture also went into huge losses.
The sector directly and indirectly generates 6 lakh job opportunities and has a huge potential to tap in coming times. The tourism players this summer had expected an increased footfall of tourists which is proving right to a larger extent.
The official estimates suggest that over 3.5 lakh tourists have arrived in Kashmir in the last three months- a major relief to the industry which was crumbling since last three years.
But the quality tourism is giving a miss with officials claiming only some 1500 foreign tourists have visited Kashmir since the beginning of the year. It is not a good sign certainly. High end tourism in Kashmir is the need of the hour.
The reasons for the poor footfall of foreign tourists are attributed to the advisories issued by foreign countries. Most of the European and western countries have asked their citizens not to visit Kashmir which literally has dented the prospectus of high end tourism.
The centre government which directly controls the Jammu Kashmir Union Territory can’t sit aside and keep watching the fall of high end tourism in Kashmir. Interestingly, the media reports suggest that despite Kashmir being a world class tourist destination, Bihar is attracting more foreign tourists.
Domestic tourism keeps the flow but foreign tourism brings high value remittances to the valley. The local tourism department along with the Ministry of External Affairs has a bigger role to play and convince the developed countries that Kashmir is safe for its citizens. Jammu Kashmir can’t afford to wait for these countries to decide on their own.
Our government needs to travel to these countries and give them assurances that they are protected and safe in our land. By the time they are convinced that Kashmir is safe for travel, it would be too late. At any cost we must protect and promote the high end tourism in the larger socio-political interests.
