Valley tourism traders suffer huge losses; say government responsible

Valley tourism traders suffer huge losses; say government responsible
Entrust management of yatra to tourism deptt: KCCI, FCIK
BILAL HUSSAIN
Srinagar: The Valley tourism traders including the hoteliers and travel operators are presently a disappointed lot. The chaos that the government order on forestland transfer to SASB has created, they say, has immensely affected their business, with tourists in Kashmir curtailing their stays and those expected to come cancelling their bookings. Several associations of tourism traders while demanding immediate withdrawal of the order accused the government of striking a blow to the tourism industry. "Government by its land transfer order, which is totally unwarranted, besides creating a huge controversy in the state, has affected our business. If the order is not withdrawn we fear huge cancellations may follow," said representative of a tourism traders' organization. Director, Shiraz Travels Nazir Ahmad Bakshi told Greater Kashmir that in the first half of this year "we had around 4 lakh tourists in the Valley." According to Bakshi there were some cancellations so far, but "large cancellations could be expected in two to three days." Bakshi said since the India-US nuclear deal was presently the top story in India, it has to some extent stopped the cancellations by the tourists. "But now the tourists have begun to make queries and if the condition did not improve in one or two days, there could be huge cancellations," Bakshi said. He said, "In a situation that is prevailing in the state, the government should have reassured the tourist, hoteliers and travel agencies, which it has not done so far," he said, adding that it was encouraging that none of the tourists has been harmed till now in Kashmir. Chairman Travel Agents Association of India, TAAI, (Kashmir chapter) Nasir Shah said that lots of cancellations have already started and many tourists have postponed their visits to Kashmir. "Those who are present here are leaving before their scheduled departures," he confirmed. "Government's indifference has made the tourism industry to suffer in the Valley," he said. "In my 30 years of career in travel business, I have for the first time seen world famous Dal Lake literally locked up. There was not even a single joy ride in the Dal Lake," he said. "Killing of three youths here in the Valley has further aggravated the condition, looking at the sentiments of the general masses government should revoke the order at earliest," he said. The hoteliers blame government for losses they suffer. "This year we had got full bookings for hotel rooms for three months in advance. But the government's decision on land transfer has dented our business and poured water on our expectations," said a hotelier pleading anonymity. Foreign tourists have also cancelled their travel programmes to the Valley in the wake of the turbulent condition in Kashmir. "I had booking for tourists from Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia. But all of them have cancelled their booking and I have suffered huge losses," said an owner of a local travel agency.