Cabinet enhances employees DA by 2% from Jan 1, 2025
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, May 27: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the Centre will take some major decisions to revive tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and urged for keeping the sector conflict-neutral.
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Omar told a news conference that tourism in Kashmir is an economic activity, which helps many people to earn their livelihood. “Tourism has to be conflict-neutral, like other parts of the country. It is just an economic activity. There are many parameters by which we will measure normalcy; we will continue to do that,” he said.
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The Chief Minister said the sector is being seen through the prism of politics, but his Government will make efforts to ensure that the world will see it through the prism of economic activity and keep it aloof from the situation. “We are expecting the gradual revival of tourism again,” he added.
About the conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Omar said, “Like every year, arrangements are being made to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. We want the yatris to return home safely.”
The Chief Minister said he has already discussed the revival of tourism in J&K with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. “I can’t share details here, but the Centre will come up with major decisions for the revival of tourism. I have also raised the issue related to the security of tourists with the Home Minister,” he added.
“Two days back, there was a meeting of the NITI Aayog in Delhi and I got an opportunity to talk to him and we discussed the way to restore tourism in J&K. While I cannot share the details here, some concrete steps will be taken by the Centre on that,” he said.
Omar said tourism cannot be revived without ensuring security for visitors, adding that the talks in this regard have already been started.
“The tourism sector falls under my jurisdiction, but the security for them doesn’t. The Governments – the elected Government, non-elected Government and the Centre – will have to work unitedly for the revival of tourism,” he said.
Asked about waiving off loans for the tourism players, the Chief Minister said there is an ongoing conversation with the Government of India to see what can be done in the short term to assist the people having loans. “My concern extends to the whole tourism industry. The talks are already going on to find some ways to help the tourism players,” he said.
About the revival of the tourism sector, the CM said J&K will be participating in the upcoming travel fairs and other events to boost and promote tourism.
“We are exploring actively how best we can participate in the upcoming travel fairs like the TTF in Kolkata and Hyderabad,” he said, aiming to “take our message that JK wants to be open for business again to these markets”.
Omar said the data on the losses suffered by tourism sector is being collected, but the numbers continue to go up. “It is not the static number. We will not be able to compensate every single rupee of loss,” he said.
On the visit of tour operators from Maharashtra and Gujarat, he said, “They have all come here on their own. Around 60 tour operators have visited here. The numbers have risen from 20 to 60. I can’t claim that the J&K government brought them here. They have come here to boost the morale of the people of Kashmir and tell them that tourism should be revived here.”
Omar said the past five to six weeks were not favourable to the country, but J&K has borne the brunt. “We have come out of the difficult time. We will take steps to restore the things. I believe we will get assistance from the Centre in this regard,” he said.
On the reopening of 48 destinations, the CM said the decision should be reviewed and the places should be opened for the public gradually.
He specifically mentioned closed sites like Aru and Betaab valleys in Pahalgam, Thajwas glacier in Sonamarg, and even Badamwari and Tulip Garden in Srinagar.
“If we have to close Tulip Garden, then we have to shut the whole Kashmir. I think we have to show some courage and reopen these destinations slowly. The time has come to review the list,” he said.
About the cabinet meeting in Pahalgam, Omar said it was the first time that a Cabinet meeting was held away from Srinagar and Jammu. “We are not here to fulfil the Government’s mission. We came here to give a message that violence and bloodshed cannot deter J&K’s agenda for peace and progress. Through this meeting, we salute the courage of the people across Kashmir, especially Pahalgam, for showing their resentment against the terrorist attack on April 22,” he said.
An official spokesman said the meeting was held to demonstrate the resolve of the Government to restart normal routine in Pahalgam, send a welcoming message to tourists and to vehemently reject all kinds of violence and attempts to derail peace in Jammu & Kashmir.
“The choice of Pahalgam is aimed at expressing solidarity with the victims of terror attack at Baisaran on April 22, after which Kashmir including Pahalgam has witnessed a sharp decline in tourist footfall,” read the official handout.
The cabinet decided to build a memorial in honour of tourists who lost their lives in a terror attack at Baisaran, Pahalgam.
The cabinet gave its go-ahead to Roads & Building Department for building the memorial. “The memorial will be built at Baisaran to pay tributes to the victims with their names inscribed on it,” an official said.
He said the Cabinet has also enhanced the Dearness Allowance of employees by two percent, retrospectively from January 1, 2025.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Minister for Health Sakina Ittoo said that the Cabinet condemned the terror attack.
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