Week-long visit of a group of J&K businessmen to the US to explore opportunities of learning advanced methodology of conducting trade and business with US partners has been the first ever attempt in this direction.
As expected, the group has appealed to the US State department to lift travel advisory imposed on the visit of US citizens to Kashmir. They have reiterated that normalcy has returned to Kashmir and UK, Germany and Japan had already lifted the travel advisory. Hopefully, presence of the group of businessmen from J&K State should have positive impact on policy planners in the State Department. Generally in peace times, the largest number of foreign visitors to Kashmir used to be of tourists from United Kingdom. Very few tourists came from the US though in years just before the outbreak of turmoil in 1989, the number of tourists from the US had begun to show signs of increase. With the onset of turmoil and then the issuance of travel advisory, the number of foreign travelers came to a halt and the economy of the State suffered severe crunch. People directly involved with tourist industry and depending on income from this source had to be given succour by the Government because they were faced with shattered economy. Now that we hope with the initiative of the businessmen’s delegation, the State Department will withdraw the advisory and a new era will dawn in which American tourists to Kashmir will evince keen interest.
Naturally, this will ask for upgraded and sophisticated facilities for the tourists from the new world. The Department of Tourism has to ensure that what the J&K businessmen are selling in the US and other countries is what exists in letter and in spirit at tourist destination sites. It has to be remembered that in the US and Europe, there are natural sites and recreational resorts much more attractive than in Kashmir. Human ingenuity has bestowed upon them beauty and grace that may not be surpassed. Therefore while our delegation will be making good deal of lobbying and persuasions in the US, the Tourism Department must also come up to their expectation.
There is large scope for marketing of Kashmir handicrafts in the US. This is one item which will earn us good deal of foreign exchange. But we need to maintain the originality and purity of our handicraft products. The US has cold climate and woolen items are in demand. In particular Kashmiri shawl will have great market in that country. In regard to carpets, it is important to remember that great and traditional carpet manufacturing countries like Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and others have grabbed major markets in that country and from olden days. It will not be easy for Kashmiri carpet manufacturers to dislodge them. Moreover, Kashmiri carpets are no match to Iranian and Turkish carpets in terms of quality of stuff used, workmanship and expertise of the weavers. But that does not mean that our manufacturers should not jump into fray. We need to diversify our handicrafts and make them compatible with the taste of contemporary society in the western world.
It is good that the visiting delegation has evinced interest in gaining knowledge about what could be the possibilities and areas in which J&K can increase export. New technologies and skills have to be invited. For example, in Denver in the State of Colorado, the delegation will interact with counterparts dealing in tourism and hotel management. This interaction will give them an idea of how much advanced is the tourist industry of the United States and how much scope is there for our home tourism to develop.
This is the first delegation of its kind and obviously it will pave the way for regular exchanges between the two countries. Given a state of normalcy and peace, much could be achieved by encouraging young entrepreneurs to expand their business activities and involve more young people to self-employment enterprise. It will augur well for our youth. Bilateral exchanges should not remain confined to bureaucrats and legislators only —- the privileged class in our country. Exchanges of teachers, scholars, jurists, scientists, technocrats, journalists and social activists also need to be encouraged.
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