Dr Farooq Ahmad Peer
The world has woken up to a new dawn, it never expected and for which it was never prepared. All the leading intellectuals and scholars all over the world would worry and warn us about an environmental catastrophe or a nuclear disaster but what caught them off-guard was a tiny microscopic virus. This tiny microscopic virus brought the world to its knees and made a dent to its centuries old established economic, social, political and cultural order. The loss of economics and business poses an existential threat to millions of people all over the world and our part of the world is no exception.
The blissful and idyllic Valley of Kashmir surrounded by the snow-capped mountain peaks receives over a million tourists and pilgrims every year. Spacing out from the country tourists, foreign tourists from various countries including United States, the United Kingdom, European countries like France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain etc, visit Kashmir during summers as well as winters. Besides, foreign nationals from Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam also swarm into valleys’ tourist resorts in an honest number. Details and data available in the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department reveals that after the spread of the Pandemic, the flow of tourists ,as was seen from December 2019 to February not only slowed down but completely froze. This steep decline in Kashmir’s tourist arrival has devastated the tourism sector. The stakeholders of tourism industry believe that they are destroyed and all players involved are traumatised. All hoteliers, transporters, shikarwalas, shopkeepers, ponnywallas, tourist guides and all agents related to tourism are economically shattered and have turned jobless. They all had visualized the coming of summer as a revival to their business, compensating the last years’ despondency and loss. Though the terrible and harsh winter is gone, the love of sun has fertilized our valley to produce lush greens, buds, blossoms, phenomenal flora and fauna and immaculate and pristine natural beauty everywhere yet regrettably and execrably, the awful and dreadful incidence of our lot is unwilling to leave us. And here, imperceptibly emerged the pandemic of Covid- 19 which has undoubtedly brought the whole world to languishing situation everywhere and our land is not impervious. And we are deeply anguished for we have been facing all kinds of viruses and vulnerabilities. In 2020, key players connected with this sector here had high hopes for a very sound tourism business this year. The Shikarwalas, Taxi owner, hoteliers, houseboat owners, ponny wallas, fine art artisans like shawl weavers, papier mache artists and others had almost stirred up themselves for a new era in tourism. But all expectations stand dashed and ashened. All is hushed and soundless here. Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Kokarnag, Doodhpatheri, Dal Lake, Mansbal, Nigeen Lake, Rivers, Springs, and Gardens and parks are tranquil and quiet and only chirping of birds is perceptible. Every facilitated tourist infrastructure, hotels, restaurants, boats and bazaars witness no buzzing activity, no movement of people and no business, rather there is only mental starvation and daze for all.
The dilemma of tourism players is going to persist for a longer period of time as the WHO has declared that the pandemic may infect people for years and so we need to be ready for a bigger war against the virus. The Government which is the Guardian of people ought to contour a policy to help the tourism sector here as it has tried its mechanism for various other sectors. Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir has reopened from July 14 after a 10-month long and painful closure. The Govt has ordered tourists to follow the guidelines issued by the State Executive Committee for regulating their entry into Jammu and Kashmir in view of the spread of the Pandemic Covid -19. As per the notification, any deviation from the order will attract penal action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. But tepid and lukewarm response has been observed from the tourists for evident reasons. The Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the valley, is among the worst hit places at present which has above 13,000 confirmed coronavirus positive cases and 244 deaths till date. The shutdown of the tourism sector over the months has resulted in loss of jobs as well as financial losses evident from incapacity of borrowers of Loan to repay, as revealed by a survey conducted by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). The festering and rankling of tourist activity has caused huge losses to tourism sector and thereby, rammed it into shambles. Artisans and weavers are jobless, all players are jobless. The business losses are more than 14000 crores. The pandemic has worsened the situation and no doubt precautions are must to contain this fatal disease, but government must come to the rescue of Kashmir economy as it is matter of survival for business community and said community has brought their plight into the notice of Central as well as local Government also. The fraternity has urged the J&K Government to come forward and help the tourism sector to come out of this financial misery. Everywhere there is a panic and in this situation traders are witnessing very low sales which are impacting recovery from losses they suffered due to uncertainty and clampdown. This jolt could not have come at worse time than this. Business community in Kashmir is facing plethora of problems, now this epidemic has further dented their hope of revival during this year.
The Pandemic and the resulting frustration may have given majority of places and communities in the world a crude surprise, but to our Land and its people, particularly the Valley, it is yet another joggle and yet another moment to repose faith in its resilience to overcome this difficult situation. The people of Kashmir can bear loss of anything including their loved ones, or loss of business but what they cannot afford to lose at this moment is the loss of hope and the very faith that has carried them through various turbulent times .This colossal loss in tourism sector would mean nothing if we as a community with the support of Government step forward and face this challenge upfront so that this morose valley and its people would rejuvenate and rise from the ashes again.
Tail Piece: “If winter comes, can spring be far behind” writes revolutionary poet P. B. Shelley.
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