CPIM leader and former MLA from Kulgam Mohammad YousufTarigami Thursday said the tourism industry in Kashmir has come to an almost complete standstill affecting the livelihood of a sizeable section of population.
Houseboats are empty, taxi drivers and shikara owners arewhiling away time with no business on the horizon, he said, according to astatement issued by the CPIM here.
“The tourism sector in Kashmir is going through its worstcrisis with many hotels closing down, staff being laid off and players in theindustry looking for alternative businesses or even job opportunities.Businesses linked with tourism, including handicrafts, restaurants andtransporters are also facing a financial crisis. People, who are associatedwith tourism, are facing difficulties to feed their families,” Tarigami said.
“The atmosphere of panic has been created by TV channels,who are portraying Kashmir in negative manner. The electronic media’s coverageof the developments were damaging the tourism industry. The continuous negativecoverage, especially of violence, which is not the overwhelming reality inKashmir, has stalled tourist inflow to Kashmir.”
The electronic media is not projecting the good things aboutKashmir. Only yesterday a taxi driver has reportedly returned a bag containingcash and ornaments worth Rs 10 lakh to a tourist family, who had lost it inAharbal, Kulgam, he said, adding, Kashmiris are hospitable people, who takegood care of tourists always.
“The J&K government, which is spending huge money toadvertise Kashmir and trying to get it back on the regional and global touristmap, has not managed any notable success,” Tarigami said. “The 2014 floods andthe 2016 unrest, had already given a blow to the tourism industry in Kashmirand then continuous negative portrayal is damaging it further.”
Tarigami said the people associated with tourism industryhave taken loans from different financial institutions and are paying hugeinterests on it. “Many Shikara owners are now selling vegetables, while travelagents have shut their offices to save rent and are looking for other careers.They operate from home to entertain a rare booking. It is duty of thegovernment to come to the rescue of these people as they are facing thecrisis,” he said.