Periodically, we are reminded of expanding the industry of tourism in our State. By and large, tourism is mostly linked to Kashmir Valley, and to a lesser measure Ladakh. Tourist potential of Jammu region is only talked about but not explored and exploited. If tourism in State is nature-related and not history or culture related, then Jammu too should have found its proper place on the tourist map of the State. No major seminar, symposium or conference on State tourism has been held in Jammu or Ladakh, whereas Srinagar has become the hub of such activities ever since militancy came down in the valley. Therefore, the stakeholders in tourist industry will have to revise their overall perception of tourism in the State. Let it be clear that not foreign but home tourists have to be considered the real mainstay of the industry in the State. The pattern of development of tourist industry and providing requisite infrastructure in all the three regions has to be commensurate with physical, topographical, cultural and environmental conditions prevailing in each region.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Azad has touched on an important aspect of Kashmir tourism in the course of his address to the seminar titled ‘Sustainable Tourism-Environment and Infrastructure’ at SKICC. It is time the people of the Valley understand what economic loss they have suffered owing to two decade long militancy. Governments of many western countries issued travel advisories to their nationals prohibiting visits to Kashmir owing to insecurity of life. This dealt severe blow to the economy of the state and more particularly those who exclusively depended on tourists from abroad. However, they could bridge over the difficult times partly owing to the continued inflow of tourists within the country and partly because of financial succour provided by the government under schemes of relief to persons involved with the industry. Those who supported and promoted militancy and disruption of law and order in the State are not at all friends and sympathisers of the people of the valley. This reality needs to be understood by one and all. Therefore, if the industry has to prosper and if its benefits are to accrue to the people associated with it, peace and tranquillity are the pre-requisites. It is for the people to ensure stability and sustainability of peace in the State. Hindsight will show that two decades of insurgency and government’s pre-occupation with the urgent need of restoring normalcy took heavy toll of State’s progress and development. Srinagar had the potential to become the northern hub of country’s IT industry along with Bangalore and Hyderabad only if militancy had not wrecked peace here. The potential still remains in place and can be explored and exploited for the benefit of the people of the State provided peace is given a chance.
Sometime back a suggestion was made that Kashmir should have air connectivity directly with the world outside. The idea floated from a prospect of ever increasing number of hajj pilgrims from Kashmir. Consequently, after due consideration by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, the plan of converting Srinagar airport into international airport was approved and funds were provided and infrastructure was raised. But then Pakistan put up its resistance saying that it would not allow its air space to be used by direct flights from Srinagar. The dream of Srinagar having a functional international airport remains unfulfilled. The Chief Minister is right in suggesting that alternatively the international airport should be used for flights eastward and in order to establish connectivity with destinations in South East Asia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Australia, China and other countries. There could be good number of tourists from these places intending to visit Kashmir. This would also mean that facilities at Leh airport are extended considerably.
Diversification of tourism is of vital importance. Changing tastes and demands of tourists have to be kept in mind. Stay-home tourism is becoming very popular throughout the world and in Europe it is fast taking place of stay in luxurious hotels. In particular those interested in culture tourism prefer the stay-home tourism. Ladakh is an excellent example of stay-home tourism and has to be expanded by providing expert opinion, financial assistance for better infrastructure and connectivity facilities to the households volunteering for promotion of stay-home tourism. Stay-home tourism has yet to begin in Kashmir; house boat tourism is a different story.
Lastly, but more importantly, it has to be noted that Kashmir must attain international standard of tourist facilities which it has not at the moment. Kashmir tourism has to be sold to the world at large through home and foreign tourists. There should be more to give than to take. Pilgrimage tourism needs to be converted into pilgrimage plus pleasure tourism. More than a crore pilgrims visited Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu this year. We need motivating this enormous number for visits to other places in all the three regions of the State. Tourists have to be our ambassadors of goodwill carrying our invitation and gesture of goodwill to the people all over the world.
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