Discouraging signals
Recently some media reports quoted figures from Union Tourist Ministry about the dismal performance of tourism sector in Kashmir valley.
In the run-up to the decision of the abrogation of Article 370, the Centre issued an advisory asking tourists and Amarnath pilgrims to immediately leave the region. This advisory resulted in huge losses to the hoteliers, houseboat owners, and travel agents.
Tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and non-local labourers fled Kashmir before the authorities could impose curfew and communication blockade on the night of August 4, fearing a backlash against the decision, contributed further to the loss of revenue in the tourism sector.
At least 5 lakh tourists, including 32,985 foreigners, have visited Kashmir last year, according to the official figures compiled by the Tourism Department, in a long report accessed by media recently.
According to that report, a majority of them, 4.6 lakh, visited Kashmir before August 5, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two UTs — Ladakh and J&K. Most of the foreign tourists who visited Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370 are from Germany, France, United Kingdom, Australia, China, and Bangladesh.
Amid losses suffered by the tourism sector, the trade bodies have alleged that banks were threatening them with asset possession. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the government to save this secotor from further losses and announce some package for them. CK NEWS DESK
