People associated with tourist trade blame Opposition for ruining their economy

Agents conniving with a regional party to divert tourists to other States

Various tourist trade organizations have blamed main opposition political party for ruining their economy and shattering yet another tourist season that began on a promising note. In a meeting convened today at Srinagar to chalk out further course to save the present season, representatives of various trade bodies said that for the second successive year, the summer tourist season of Kashmir has been blown into smithereens by political events which curiously are unfolding one after the other and suggest a set pattern out to destroy the industry of Kashmir and foil the attempts of the government to revive its past glory. They expressed their sadness that when the tourism sector was being bedecked with modern infrastructure this season, Valley was simmering with political uncertainty, to which opposition parties were adding fuel to fire. Severely criticizing main opposition political party for its negative role in recent months, they said some events have been blown out of proportion with the sole objective to destabilize the government and mar the tourism industry of Kashmir Valley. Pertinent to mention here that of late, in Baramulla town, a woman of dubious character triggered a cycle of violence that resulted in the death of four innocent persons. Similarly, murder of a Maisuma boy who was killed on personal grounds and another incident of a missing boy in Larkipora led to cancellation of various tour packages of domestic and foreign visitors. People associated with tourist trade have reassured the State government that they will cooperate with it fully in exposing forces which are out to destroy the once-robust tourism industry in the State. Mr. Abdul Rashid Badyari, a prominent head of a houseboat owners association, said that besides thousands of people directly associated with tourist trade which include hoteliers, houseboat owners, Shikarawallahs, Ponywallahs, transporters and tour operators, over 30,000 people associated with the handicrafts sector will also be rendered jobless. He said tourism and handicraft sectors are going through a severe crisis and if the situation is allowed to drift further, irreparable damage will be done to tourism and related industries in the State. Various other trade representatives, who also spoke on the occasion, criticized petty power politics indulged in by main opposition political party that has played havoc with the tourism industry of Kashmir valley. They said handicrafts and fruit industries, linked with tourism sector, have also suffered a big jolt which has hurt the economy of the State. Expressing happiness on taking over of Nigeen Club by the State government after 20 years of occupation by security forces, they hoped that this summer will not be lost to petting politicking by main opposition party. Asking people to understand machinations of main opposition political party, which is out to destabilize the government, the tourist trade bodies feared emergence of a nexus between outside forces bent upon sabotaging J&K’s tourism industry and main opposition political party to inflict a severe blow to J&K’s economy, which is already reeling due to heavy losses this summer. They said some travel agents are spreading rumours about situation in Kashmir and diverting tourists to other destinations like Himachal Pradesh. They said the main opposition party was clandestinely helping these agents in their endeavour. Suspecting a pattern in recent developments which clearly suggests that some parties like main opposition political party do not want an improvement in the overall ground situation in the State, which would have paved way for tourism to flourish, many representatives said that the tourist inflow to Kashmir has been severely restricted on account of frequent hartals and tense atmosphere that has engulfed the valley. While government is working hard to improve tourism infrastructure, all the good work is coming to a naught because of deteriorating law-and-order situation in the Valley, they said, urging people to defeat these forces once and for all. The participants regretted that tourism, particularly in Kashmir, once epicenter of overseas visitors, today, in spite of government’s brave efforts, is being ruined by day-to-day strikes and protests created by vested elements, which make tourists to cancel their visits. “Government has been proactively pursuing with the Ministry of External Affairs the issue of withdrawal of travel advisories of many countries on traveling to Kashmir. But, recent events are not helping our cause on this front,” they moaned. Asking people to ponder over the fact that negative tendency of hartal politics will give them nothing, the tourist trade associations asked people to save its tourism industry by shunning path of strikes and protests so that common people earn their livelihood and are not deprived of their right to honourable living. They said tourism industry has incurred heavy losses and expressed hope that the ongoing tense atmosphere which is being deliberately created by main opposition political party, will be brought under control quickly.