‘Pahalgam attack a major setback to tourism industry’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Tourism & Cultural Heritage Society (TCHS) emphasized that terrorism is a major threat to global peace and must be fought with iron hands.
Talking to reporters here, today Society president, Raminder K Sanhotra along with his executive body demanded that the supporters and sponsors of the Pahalgam attack be brought to justice. He made an appeal to Jammu & Kashmir administration as well as Union Government especially Home Ministry to act decisively in curbing terrorism.
The Society president termed the Pahalgam attack a major security lapse and intelligence failure due to which such a first ever attack on tourists took place. As it is a well-known fact that Tourism is the back bone of economic growth of Jammu & Kashmir UT, which was on ventilator after pandemic Covid-19 especially in Jammu province and all efforts are needed to protect this industry, he added.
He said all the stakeholders of Tourism Sector in Jammu Province are totally depending upon Kashmir Valley due to undeveloped tourist destinations in Jammu. This brutal attack on innocent tourists shuts down all the hopes of travel trade industry not only in Kashmir Valley but in Jammu also resulting decreasing numbers of devotees coming to Mata Vaishno Devi. It also seems that it may cause negative effect on upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra starting in July 2025, he added.
Sanhotra said “It is a very big challenge for us being a responsible stakeholder to re-build a feeling of safety and security as well in the minds of tourists visiting J&K, which is not possible without sincere efforts of administration especially Department of Tourism and Ministry of Home Affairs. Apart from all such concerns the most important key factor that while framing any policies administration / Tourism Department must involve all the stakeholders and take the suggestions so that there is no negative impact on Tourism Industry in the UT. “Only then we will be able to revive Tourism Industry in the UT and counter critical trend trolling around social media boycott Kashmir”,.
He made an appeal to people not to share and follow the negative posters as it will directly strengthen the ideology of separatism.
He said Air fare has also become a very serious issue as whenever any tragedy occurs, the Air fares shoot up like share market. He urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to closely monitor all airlines and take a serious note of soaring fares as this is important for passenger safety and well-being especially on the occasions of such mis-happenings.
He also strongly condemned Pahalgam terrorist attack and expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
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