The decision by some tour operators of Maharashtra to defy the ‘boycott Kashmir call’ has been hailed by their counterparts in Kashmir, saying the move may bring some respite to tourism sector and will send a positive message in the market.
This support extended to Kashmir tourism from theMaharashtra-based tour operators at a time when tourist arrivals to Kashmirhave nosedived after Pulwama attack holds significance. Kashmir which witnessedaround 8.5 lakh tourist arrivals last year, as per officials saw highestfootfalls from Maharashtra. Pre-recorded video messages by these tour operatorsagainst the boycott have gone viral getting a large number of hits.
Speaking with Greater Kashmir over phone, owners of leadingtour operating companies based in various Maharashtra cities such as Mumbai,Pune and Nashik said their defiance to the boycott call was a “befitting replyto fringe elements hell-bent to crush Kashmir economy”.
VeenaPatil, managing director of Mumbai-headquartered VeenaWorld Tour Company says operators who have been running negative campaignsagainst Kashmir are not “well-wishers” of the Valley.
Patil who is also a member of Maharashtra Tour OperatorsAssociation said her company which had put postponement of some tour bookingshave restarted selling Kashmir as a tourist destination. “There was fear afterthe Pulwama attack and we received frantic calls from intending tourists. Theywould often ask a pointed question that whether we can give a guarantee fortheir life?” said Patil. “Our relation with Kashmir goes back to severaldecades so we cannot fall victim to any hate-campaign against it,” she added.
“Boycotting Kashmir does not mean just an end to bread andbutter of Valley’s tourism fraternity but even counterproductive for tourcompanies in rest of the country. Kashmir has given us business for all theseyears and now we cannot just dump it during these testing times,” Patil said.
VishwasKelkar, president, Pune Travel Agents Associationsaid more than 20 operators based in various parts of Maharashtra have been”out rightly opposing the boycott call from the day some tour operators startedmaking it viral on social media”.
“From day one we have been saying that any sort of boycottis wrong. We have assured our potential clients that we are ready to accompanythem personally but do not cancel bookings. It is matter of livelihood fortourism players both in the Valley and rest of country,” said Kelkar. “On April 24, we have a group of 55 touristsvisiting the Valley whom we have been encouraging,” said Kelkar.
Speaking with Greater Kashmir from Pune, ZelamChaubal, Director, Kesari Tours said she is against her counterparts who despite having been doing business in the Valley for decades are now issuing ‘boycott diktats’ for it. “Government needs to create a conducive atmosphere to overcome trust deficit among intending tourists and tour operators.
We are all fond of Kashmir and will withstand any efforts to mislabel its people,” says Chaubal. Meanwhile, several Kashmiri associations of tour operators and hoteliers who held a joint meeting last week to discuss the ongoing decline in the tourism industry due to the fragile situation is now planning to reach out to the “more friendly states”.
“The way these tour operators have taken to social media to defy the ‘boycott cal’ is encouraging. We hope this to be a good beginning to end the hate-campaign against Kashmir,” said general secretary, Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, AtharYameen.