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Valley witnesses sharp slump in tourist business Expensive road shows fail to yield results 9/21/2015 11:30:11 PM Peerzada Ummer Early Times Report Srinagar, Sept 21: Amid hectic tours of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to metropolitan cities for luring tourists to the Valley, the tourism industry is witnessing a sharp drop in its business. Though the authorities here remain tight-lipped over the number of tourist arrivals this year, sources said the business witnessed a sharp downfall "which was never ever witnessed even during the militancy period in Kashmir." There are reports that the tourist destinations are receiving not more than 15 percent visitors, hence resulting in loss of 85 percent of the business this year. The tourist spots of the Valley continue to give deserted and desolated looks, according to sources. As government continues to spend huge funds to boost the tourism industry, the fall in tourist numbers is raising questions including about the functioning and the claims of the Tourism Department. Sources told Early Times that the incumbent PDP-BJP regime while taking serious note of the present situation has summoned the authorities of the Tourism Department, reprimanding them about their failure in putting the tourism sector back on gear. The functioning of various tourism officers is also being scrutinized in a bid to make efforts more concreted and result oriented in future. "There was no dearth of funds at all in the Tourism Department. Funds were spent like anything in conduction of road shows, events and what not. After all such expensive marketing, if the result continues to remain below the expected mark, then someone has to be held accountable for such a failure," said a senior official while pleading anonymity. It remains to be seen what measures the government would take to make the babus of Tourism Department more accountable so that they instead of holidaying on state exchequer could somehow contribute to the office they work for. There are also reports that the Tourism Department has failed to counter reports of flood threats looming large in the Valley which has created a fear psychosis among the potential tourists. Notably, huge money was spent on road shows outside the state in a bid to make people aware that Kashmir is a safe destination.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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