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| Killing of Chennai tourist punctures tourism in Kashmir | | Travel ticket, hotel booking cancellations on rise | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 9: The killing of R Thirumani, a 22-year-old youth from Chennai has affected tourism in restive Kashmir.
Thirumani, who was critically injured in stone pelting on May 7, died later in the day of head injuries. His mortal remains were flown back to his homeland whereas the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure that all tourists from south Indian state are given a "safe passage back home."
Observers said the killing of tourist proved another blow on the fragile tourism industry of Kashmir.
According to Jammu and Kashmir's 2017 economic survey, tourism accounts for 6.98% of the state's gross domestic product, while the killing of Thirumani has hit the tourism industry instantly.
Amid complaints of cancellation of air tickets and hotel bookings, presence of tourists has come down. Reports reveal that hotels in Kashmir have 10 to 15% occupancy as compared to around 40% occupancy same time around last year.
A travel and tour operator said the influx of tourists could go down further in the coming days.
"No vacations are worth life. When your life is at risk, how will you come to Kashmir," said a tour operator on the condition of anonymity.
Observers said it was the wrong promotion of Kashmir as a "safe destination" that the tourist lost his life. "Had the government made it clear that travel to Kashmir is unsafe potential tourists will take adequate precautions but this way the innocent travelers are being duped and this duping is costing them their lives," said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.
It was reliably learnt that the tourism operators of Kashmir have been unnerved by the attack and want the government to reinstate "sense of security among the potential tourists."
But given the worsening situation, chances of good tourism look bleak. |
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