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| Amid decline in COVID-19 cases, can tourism resume in Kashmir ? | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 19: The novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) since last one and half years has hit the tourism industry terribly in Kashmir. But, is it possible to resume tourism when the COVID-19 cases are on decline in the entire country including the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir?
Though in March 2021, tourist arrivals had picked up to 1, 25,000 from about 19,000 in January, the spurt in advance bookings and inquiries came to a grinding halt by mid-April as the second wave of Covid-19 hit the country. Since then thousands of families that rely on tourism and allied sectors have been out of work and struggling to stay afloat. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation for Kashmir’s floundering tourism industry.
Kashmir is an acclaimed tourist destination for national and international tourists. Dal Lake and mountain resorts such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg are among the major attractions. The tourism sector is a significant contributor to Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and accounts for around seven per cent of the region’s gross domestic product, according to Jammu and Kashmir government’s estimates.
“It is important to restore tourism activities in Kashmir; it is highly critical for the livelihood of millions of people,” said Muneer Ahmad, a tour operator. He said that there was a need to learn to deal with the pandemic, but with precautions. “We cannot wait till the last case. We would be inflicting huge economic and psychological damage on ourselves,” Muneer said. He said if basic precautions such as wearing masks, adhering to social distancing norms and carrying out testing are observed properly, resuming tourism activities would be possible.
One of the top officials here in the tourism department said that the department is putting in all efforts to facilitate tourist arrivals in Kashmir. “We are aware people belonging to the industry are suffering,” he said. “If the Covid situation further improves, then we will come up with a list of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for resumption of tourism. Now, all of us have to cooperate,” the official said.
The official said that a two-pronged strategy has been developed to ensure that tourists feel safe visiting Kashmir. The plan includes vaccinating priority groups and holding training sessions so that tourism stakeholders can adhere to safety protocols. Meanwhile, one of the top hoteliers said that Kashmir has the advantage of having spread-out tourist attractions in north, south and central regions.
“Tourism here is not confined to densely populated areas like Srinagar where people are either in crowded places or stay inside their rooms. We have Gulmarg and Pahalgam, where tourists can be in huge, open spaces as well as stay inside buildings,” he said. Another hotel owner said those dependent on the sector suffered hugely under circumstances followed by the covid pandemic.
“Most of them have been without livelihood for a year now. The boatmen are now selling barbecues, vegetables and fruits on the roadside.
But there aren’t many buyers,” he said. He added, “If you couldn’t sell a carpet or shawl today, you may be able to sell them tomorrow. But if my hotel room is not booked for a day, it means I lose the day. The same applies to a houseboat owner, a pony owner, a hawker and all those associated with tourism,” he observed, adding the industry needed a financial package to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic.
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