Srinagar, May 12: The tourism fraternity has hailed the recent statement of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) saying the party stand would help restore confidence among the tourists to visit Kashmir.
 “This is a positive step towards reviving the tourist economy of the state,” President Jammu Kashmir House Boat Owners Association, Manzoor A Wangnoo said.
 He said it was first time that any pro-freedom leader had openly advocated that Kashmir was a safe place to visit.
 “There is a conspiracy going on to paint Kashmir in bad colours to discourage tourists,” Wangnoo said, adding that however the statement by the pro-freedom leader in which he said Kashmir was safe, would help a great deal to clear the misperception among the visitors about Kashmir.
 “It would send a good signal to the tourists and cheer to thousands of people associated with tourism trade”.
 Chairman JKLF Muhammad Yasin Malik on Tuesday had cautioned the tourists against ‘disinformation campaign launched by vested interests in various states to forestall tourist flow to Kashmir.’
 “Kashmir is open and safe for tourism,” Malik had said while appealing tourists not to pay heed to lies and rumours being spread to dissuade them from visiting Kashmir.
 General Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance, Nasir Shah while hailing the JKLF statement said it has come “timely”.
 “We are really delighted that pro-freedom camp is concerned about people of Kashmir. Our several delegations have met pro-freedom camp leaders. We have discussed with them that Kashmir is being projected in a negative way. Its first time this year JKLF has publicly advocated that Kashmir is safe”.
 He said Kashmir desperately needed tourists to make for the hefty economic losses “tourism traders here suffered during last three years.”
 “The JKLF statement would send positive messages to the tourists in India and elsewhere. It would give a boost to tourism. Since, they believe in the pro-freedom camp voice,” Shah said.
 He said it’s imperative that regular business activity should be allowed so that people earn.
 Spokesperson Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEL), Siraj Ahmad said they hailed the statement of Malik. “It would have a far reaching positive impact on the tourism industry,” he said.
  “The tourist operators outside Valley inform the visitors it’s dangerous to visit Kashmir owning to its fragile political situation,” Ahmad said.
 “This year the negative perception is more and many tourists have cancelled there bookings”.
 He said there is a campaign to keep the Kashmir tourism under developed. “Apart from that Indian media also plays spoilsport,” Ahmad said. 
 “So the pr-freedom party’s statement is a positive step. The other people in the camp should also follow the suit,” he said.
 Kashmir tourism was badly hit in the summer of 2010 due to uprising which claimed life of 118 people and left 2500 hundred other injured.
 “Kashmir’s economy is dependable on tourism. So we appreciate statements which assure tourists that Kashmir is safe,” Kashmir Hotel Restaurant Owners Federation Manzoor Ahmad said.
 “The inflow is less. We feel it would pick up in the coming days. We have shown Kashmir is a safe place by conducting Amarnath yatra,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 IST