Jahangir Sofi
After the BJP led NDA government abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and downgrading the erstwhile state of J&K into a Union Territory, the government claims the move will pave a way for development and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
Before removal of Article 370 an advisory was issued by the MHA asking tourists to leave J&K. At the same time the annual Amarnath pilgrimage was called off. The advisory by the central government was not less than a shocker for everyone in Kashmir. Hotels were full of buzz with tourists and fully jam packed and hours after the advisory the hotels started presented a deserted look.
The people associated with the tourism industry were shocked. Mohammad Shareef, a Hotel manager in Gulmarg says, “I still can’t forget that day. Our hotel was full and we would get calls for new bookings. We had furnished and decorated our hotel. We had hired more staff. But just after the advisory was issued our hotel rooms started getting empty. The tourists started leaving. We tried to pacify them but they got scared and left in as quickly as possible.”
As soon as the conditions and resumption of daily routine of people went into the normal course, people associated with the tourism industry started a new beginning and visitors started thronging to the valley. But the happiness of tourism stakeholders didn’t last for long.
With the announcement of declaring Covid-19 as global Pandemic by the World Health organisation-(WHO), the entire world went on grinding halt, with travel bans both at national and international level. It was not less than a death warrant for the tourism industry in Kashmir.
The shutdown of the tourism sector over the months had resulted in job losses and financial losses to Jammu and Kashmir. A survey conducted by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) reveals, 10-month closure of the tourism sector resulted in lakhs of job losses. Borrowers of financial institutions also lost their capacity to repay their debts.
Kashmir is an acclaimed tourist destination for National and International visitors. Dal Lake, Mountainous resorts Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg are among the major attractions. Hospitality and tourism are, in fact, a part of Kashmir valley’s tradition, culture, and economic development.
From July 14, 2019, the Government decided to open up tourism in Jammu and Kashmir in a phased manner, after a prolonged closure of 10 months. The administration issued a set of guidelines. The tourism sector faced an unprecedented slump because of its first six month closure in the wake of the revocation of J&K’s Special status. And then again the next four months of closure due to the coronavirus induced lockdown from March 20.
Ideel Saleem, an official in the tourism department says, “revival of tourism amid blobal Pandemic covid-19 was never easy. But the department decided to make the start and it was like ‘starting from the scratch’, We went to different states of India and interacted with different travel agencies. We participated in different webinars and it was a success and tourists started coming again to Kashmir.”
For the restoration of tourism in Kashmir, the Department of Tourism started multiple activities and programmes to attract national and international tourists.
Joint Director Tourism Tabasum Kamli says, “keeping in view the existing Covid-19 threat all incoming passengers at Srinagar airport have to go through a mandatory Covid-19 test and anybody testing positive is immediately isolated.”
The daily number of Covid-19 infections in Kashmir Valley has considerably dropped to below 100.
So far one lakh and 24 thousand people have been infected by the virus in Jammu & Kashmir, and around 1930 people have died.
Much to respite for the people and the stakeholders associated with the tourism industry has been the induction of two vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield. The vaccine has given glimpse of hope for tourism stakeholders in the valley and other tourist destinations of the country.
With Over one crore and 5.27 lakh people being infected by the virus in India, there have been close to 1.52 lakh deaths being reported.
Notably in the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive health workers will be inoculated, which will be followed by front line workers in the second Phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive.
Commissioner Secretary of Government for Tourism department Sarmad Hafeez says, “We started the tourism activities in mid of Covid-19 pandemic. Pandemic is the reality and we have to live with it. In June we opened tourism as per the directions of MHA. Initially we had a very low influx of tourists. But we had early snowfall in Kashmir and it proved to be a blessing. Tourists started thronging in large numbers and numbers are increasing with every passing day,” he adds.
“Gulmarg is full of snow this winter and we are working to attract good tourism”, he says.
On the recent visit the parliamentary standing committee along with the top officials of the tourism department including the principal secretary tourism Sarmad Hafeez met in Gulmarg to have an on spot assessment of the tourism facilities and amenities available in the valley. The parliamentary committee on a three day visit to the valley met various delegations including the stakeholders associated with the tourism sector in the valley.
After the meeting the delegation secretary general hoteliers club Kashmir Tariq Gani presented a memorandum based on five points to the parliamentary standing committee, highlighting the concerns and demands. They demanded the extension of the ‘lease agreements’ for the properties, whose lease has ended .
“We have seen these delegations in the past as well but this time we have a lot of expectations from this delegation. Other than hope and we don’t have anything left with us.”
The stakeholders associated with the tourism industry are eyeing a better season this year as they expect the return of travel and tourism with countries approving vaccines against the novel coronavirus.
“We have several programmes on cards as far as the winter tourism is concerned. In the first week of February we are planning a tourism festival in Phalgham and other tourist destinations,” says Hafeez.
He says the producers’ guild of India will be visiting the valley and meeting various stakeholders associated with the industry.
“The film industry producers would be on a three day visit in the valley. They will do a review of the locations for shootings. We want people to know from the rest of the country how much scope is here in Kashmir as far as film shooting is concerned. We have a lot of events in the pipeline for up-coming seasons, and we want to explore more tourist picturesque destinations”, he adds.
“The recent visit of India’s top celebrities in Kashmir valley has sent a good message across the country. A number of celebrities have desired to shoot here in Kashmir and some of them have shot songs and ads. Kashmir has a vast scope for film shooting “, says Hafeez.
“Besides, Covid-19 vaccination is in-fact a positive sign. Let us hope we all get rid of this pandemic.”