Srinagar, Dec 28: With the summer unrest leading to fresh travel advisories against the Valley, the J&K government and the tourism stakeholders here are pinning hopes on Indonesia, which has shown interest to establish trade and tourism links with the state, to help motivate others to follow suit.
 Even as the travel advisories against Kashmir by the United States and some European countries stay in place for past nearly two decades, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) — a British government department responsible for promoting overseas interests and supporting its citizens around the globe— has recently issued a travel advisory against Kashmir in the wake on summer unrest in the Valley. 
 “We advise against all travel to or through rural areas of J&K, other than to Ladakh, and against all but essential travel to Srinagar. Despite an overall decline in violence in J&K in recent years, there is a high risk of unpredictable violence, including bombings, grenade attacks, shootings and kidnapping. In some border areas there is the danger of land mines,” the FCO states on its website.
 Curiously, the mission of the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) of US State Department of State has already issued travel advisory against Kashmir.  “The Department of State strongly recommends that you avoid travel to J&K, with the exception of visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh, because of the potential for terrorist incidents as well as violent public unrest,” it states on its official website.
 Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to New Delhi, Lt Gen (Retd) Andi M Ghalib who is on an business assessment tour to the state had Sunday termed Kashmir as a safe destination for tourists and hinted at going for joint ventures for promoting tourism sector which has been badly hit by political unrest over the past two decades.
 The Ambassador had briefed Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about Indonesia’s business interest in the State to which they had assured full cooperation.
 Meanwhile, a delegation of tourism players led by Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah, held threadbare discussions on various issues ranging from development of tourism places to travel advisories, with the Ambassador here today.
 The delegation expressed hope that the proposed joint ventures by Indonesia and JK will help to get removed the travel advisories issued by the US and some European Countries against Kashmir which are taking heavy toll on our tourism sector.
 GM Dug, Chairman, J&K Tourism Alliance, said: “We hope other countries will take cue from Indonesia and not only revoke the travel advisories but help us promote tourism and infrastructure.”
  “Indonesia is one among the few countries which holds expertise in development of tourism infrastructure. The country can help us to develop and market the unexplored tourist places in the Valley,” Dug said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST