J&K govt announces `3 crore relief package for tourism employees

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced a `3 crore relief package for people employed in the tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tourism industry in Kashmir has suffered consecutive losses for the past three years, with the first lockdown, announced in 2019 during the repeal of Article 370, followed by the summers of the previous two years due to the pandemic.

“In this package, `2,000 financial assistance will be provided to 4,444 registered ‘shikara’ owners, 1,370 tourist guides, 6,663 ‘ponywalas’ and 2,150 others, including those who rent palanquins for yatris. The money will be paid for two months. The relief will be transferred to only those who are registered with the tourism department,” said an official of the tourism department.

“It is good that the government is considering such a package, but given how things are on the ground, we believe the amount should have been higher,” said Bashir Ahmad, a shikara owner on Dal Lake.

Many people have also pointed out that the package excludes travel agents, owners of Kashmir’s famous houseboats, hotels, and transportation operators.

“There is nothing in the package for people who work as travel agents or own guest houses. They, too, have suffered greatly,” said Hussain, a travel agent in Srinagar.

The tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir has been in disarray for the majority of the last two years. Tour operators had hoped that tourist inflows would increase last year, but the pandemic kept most visitors away.

However, the tourism in Kashmir had improved during the winter, leading many to believe that the summers would be just as good, but the second wave of COVID-19 has devastated this sector once again.