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Valley hotels, houseboats witness less than 5 per cent tourist flow since January, 70 per cent bookings cancelled, Tourism industry on clutches

Srinagar, March 01: As the uncertainty prevails in Kashmir with situation showing no signs of improvement with relations souring between India and Pakistan, Kashmir has been the worst victims of crisis.

Reliable sources told KNO, tourism, the backbone of Kashmirs’ economy is on a ventilator as all the bookings of hotels and houses boats have been cancelled with tourist flow dropping to all-time low— five percent.

The main reason for the sudden dip in the tourist flow and the cancellation of the books is the recent escalation between the two nuclear powers and the face-off between India and Pakistan’s air-force. Tour operators in Kashmir opine that since tensions escalated between India and Pakistan, the tourism industry has bore the brunt.

“After 2016 agitation triggered by the killing of Burhan Wani’s killing, tourism industry is gasping for breath,” said Adil Rashid, who runs a hotel on famous Bouleavard overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Kashmir is surrounded by beautiful lakes and stunning snow capped valleys and adorned with beautiful houseboats and floating markets. This beautiful valley is situated on the banks of the river Jhelum river and known as the ‘Paradise on Earth’. Kashmir is a dream destination for people of Kerala and Kashmir tour package from Kerala is a hot selling tour itinerary.

The Must visit places in Kashmir are Sonmarg, Gulmarg,Pahalgam and Dal Lake. A relaxing Shikara ride in Dal Lake is the most interesting activity in Srinagar.

Despite of being a highly militarized area, Kashmir especially tourist places like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg are completely safe. The Kashmir is as it best and considered safe as any other tourist places in India.

“For many years there has been not even a single instance when a tourist visiting the valley hurt or ill treated by locals or militants. As the tourism is the main source of income locals treat the tourists as their guests and take the responsibility towards safeguard of tourists visiting the valley,” said Mushtaq Chaya, owner of Reddison chain of hotels in Kashmir.

However, ever since the situation has worsened between India and Pakistan, Kashmir’s tourism industry has received shocker after shocker in the form of cancellation of bookings and flights.

“Somehow we were hoping for a good tourism season this year, but the war like situation between India and Pakistan has cast shadow on everything. Almost 70 per cent tourist bookings stand cancelled while there are hardly five per cent tourists present in Kashmir at present,” said Saqib Nazir, a tour operator.

“The war threat has plunged entire tourism into a deep crisis. Industry is on clutches and the only way to lift it is if India and Pakistan would start a meaningful dialogue on Kashmir, which is the main reason of rift between them.”

The house boat and shikara owners too are disappointed these days owing to the deepening crisis due to the prevailing war like situation between India and Pakistan. “Our days pass sitting idle and waiting for customers. There is hardly any tourist we ferry these days,” said Javaid Ahmed, a Shikara owner.

He said despite being the tourist season, except few foreign tourists, none visits him for taking a shikara ride. “We are on the verge of starvation these days. There seems to be no hope at the end of the tunnel,” he said.(KNO)

Lauds hospitality of Kashmiris for offering free accommodation to stranded tourists

Srinagar, Feb 27: Deputy Mayor Sheikh Mohammad Imran on Wednesday appreciated the hospitality of Kashmiris for offering free accommodation to tourists stranded in Kashmir.

Imran said Kashmiris has shown the real meaning of Kashmirat at this crucial juncture when India and Pakistan has engulfed in tensions.

He said in view of the cancellation of flights at Srinagar airport, travel and Hospitality Sector has set up helpline numbers and offers free accommodation, which is a great sign of humanity.

“It is positive massage from Kashmiris that they do not hatred and want to love and peace,” Imran said adding that these gestures will have the big messages.

He said it was unfortunate that Kashmiris were attacked and assaulted outside valley. These things will send strong message to people of India that Kashmiris are peace loving people, Imran said.

Imran thanked to travel and hospitality sector for showing positives’ at this crucial juncture for the stranded tourists.

He also lauded the efforts of Budgam people who tried to rescue the pilots in Air craft clash.

People were rushed towards the crash site but unfortunately they could not save them as damage has already been done, Imran said.

Imran expressed deep sympathies with families who lose their dear ones in air case in which 6 IAF personnel and a civilian lose life in the incident.

“Kashmiris has upheld the sayings of Sheikh Ul Alam and Lala Ded and have proven it on all fronts,” he said adding that Islam teach us peace not hatred.

“Communal mind people will be embraced today by the move of Kashmiris,” he said.

Below are the excerpts from the interview of Dilbag Singh, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Q: Militancy has again spiked in Kashmir region. Now a new phase called home-grown militancy has started where youth are joining the militant ranks leaving their education and jobs. How do you view the present situation?

A: If we look at the facts and figure we see there has been a tremendous improvement in the situation from the past. The figures of stone pelting events, law and order crisis events, fresh recruitments and actual engagements of the militant front have largely climbed down. The peaceful conduct of elections to Panchayat and local urban bodies is in itself an indication of normalcy in the valley.

Q: The alienation and radicalization of youth is increasing day by day. What are the steps taken by the J&K Police as an organisation in this regard?

A: Police is one of the agency in addressing the alienation and radicalization of youth. We have started many programmes for this purpose. We have stopped many youth who were about to join the militants. We also busted some modules that were luring the youth and neutralized them. We have involved families in weaning away youth from joining militants and instead counseled them for careers in life. Moreover, our efforts have always been to conduct neat and clean counter-insurgency operations where there are no civilian causalities. However, at times some emotional scenes attract people to come near to the encounter sites that lead to incidental civilian killings. We restraint from doing any harm to the civilian population and appeal them to remain away from the encounter sites. After analyzing the collateral damage, we issued guidelines to the police as well to the general public so that the damage could be minimized. Through newspapers and posters the message reached to the public and to a certain extent we succeeded in preventing civilian causalities. We conduct sports events too where youths are engaged to showcase their talents.

Q: What are the causes of the alienation of youth in Kashmir?

A: I think there is need to improve the educational, sports and employability opportunities for the positive engagement of the youth. Lack of employment opportunities is a crucial issue for Kashmir youth. Misuse of religion for spreading hatred against other religions or communities is also one of the factors for alienation of youth. The social and religious scholars and leaders have a role to guide the youth positively for the productive works.

Q: The attitude of the media in New Delhi towards Kashmir has been biased. The TV debates are provoking youth by projecting them as ‘anti-national’ or ‘pro-Pakistanis’. To what extent this media attitude is responsible for alienation of youth in Kashmir?

A: The competitive religiosity and the media debates have to a certain extent raised apprehensions among the youth that their future with mainland India is not safe. It is the need of the hour that such irresponsible communication should be avoided.

Q: Parliamentary and state assembly elections are ahead. What are your preparations to tackle the possible security threats to the contestants and the general public participating in the elections?

A: In democracy the election has significant place as it leads to the formation of the government. The service delivery in the government is highly affected if people elect good people to form the government. Since the collapse of the previous government, the Governor’s rule continued for six months and after that President’s rule is imposed in the state as per the constitution. It is always difficult in Governor’s or President’s rule to reach each and every person to address the grievances which is possible in the duly elected government. We are fully prepared to provide the security to the contestants and people. Recently, we performed well and succeeded in handling the security threats to the contestants in in Panchayats and Municipal bodies. We are hopeful we will pass this challenge too and will provide the security to all.

Q: Shah Faesal has cited civilian killings as one of the reason for his resignation. How do you view it?

A: It is painful to see loosing lives and human rights violations in the state due to the militancy and counter militancy. But there has been a drastic decrease in the human rights violations and civilian killings since 1990s. Our effort is always to conduct the counter-militancy operations in neat and clean way.

Q: So, does it justify that Shah Faesal’s defiance on civilian killings is true.

A: I don’t want to comment on this.

Q: There have been recent grenade attacks in several areas in Srinagar? Is this creating a panic among public?

A: Jaish-o-Muhammad, a militant outfit has taken responsibility for this terrorist attack. We have arrested six suspects involved in the grenade attacks. We have busted their module and neutralized it. It was aimed to create panic and terror in the public. We are swift in neutralizing any such modules that are aiming to disrupt the peace in the valley.

Courtesy : Kashmir Magazine/KNS

International Association of Research and Developed Organisation (IARDO), India in association with KU Home Kasetsart University, Chtuchak, Bangkok, Thailand, awarded the IARDO Young Fellow award – 2019 to Naveed Hamid, a native of Kashmir’s Pulwama district during the international conference on research, analyses, communication and evaluation held at KU, University Campus Bangkok, Thailand recently.
Hamid is working with Union ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, New Delhi and is engaged in research activities related to agribusiness and value chain. He has been awarded for his research contribution in the field of agribusiness/value chain for enhancement of profitability for small and marginal farmers of J&K. He has more than 55 publications, several national and international awards has to his credit, including full-length research papers, books, book chapters, research articles, abstracts, etc.