Tourists to return to a normalising Kashmir
In a step towards signalling return of normalcy to Jammu and Kashmir, tourists were welcome again to the state - soon to become a union territory - from October 10. Governor Satya Pal Malik has directed that the two-month old advisory asking tourists to leave the valley be lifted.
“This will be done with effect from October 10,” an official notification said.
Ahead of revocation of special status, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had issued a security advisory asking Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to leave Kashmir, citing a possible terror threat. The state government has been gradually lifting the curbs and lockdown in Kashmir Valley, imposed a day ahead of revocation of its special status on August 5.
“The tourists desirous of undertaking visit to the state shall be provided all necessary assistance and logistical support,” the notification added.
People associated with tourism have welcomed the move. “It is really good if tourists start returning to Kashmir. Tourism sector in Kashmir has never been hit so badly, things are worse than what they were during the agitation following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016,” Shakeel Rashid, who runs a shikara in the Dal Lake told IANS.
In Kashmir tourists were never barred from going to the valley even in the peak of militancy during the 1990s. Tourism is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy and a source of livelihood for lakhs of people. A mass exodus of tourists hit the tourism industry in a big way. Prior to that advisory more than 521,000 tourists and 340,000 pilgrims visited Kashmir this year. July witnessed the maximum arrivals with 1,70,000 tourists. Hotels in Kashmir shut down their operations and retrenched the staff following the massive drop in tourists.
However, while government has lifted the tourism advisory a communication blockade, including suspension of mobile phone service and Internet in Kashmir may well restrict tourists from heading back to the valley. The government has said mobile connectivity, including SMS. will be restored in phases thought Internet and Whatsapp will stilll remain barred. Officials said the communication ban was put in place to prevent Pakistan-based terror outfits from instigating violence in the state.