Early Times Report
jammu, Mar 24: The flow of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article-370 has marred in confusion as despite huge decline witnessed in Kashmir valley the overall flow of guests have recorded an increase, raising a question mark over the authenticity of data.
According to documents, the Department of Tourism Jammu and Kashmir in the month of December 2019 had furnished the details of tourist footfall in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370. In the month of August 2019, only 10130 tourists had visited while in the same month of year 2018, the tourist footfall was 86,134.
In the month of September, 2019 the fall in tourist footfall was highest with only 4562 tourists had visited J&K, while for the same month in the year 2018, the number of tourists was 83,723. Similarly in the month of October, 2019 the total tourists visited were 9327, while for the same month in 2018, the total tourists visiting the state were 59048.
The data was furnished by Department of Tourism Jammu and Kashmir in the month of December 2019 while the same department furnished the data of guests' flow in Jammu and Kashmir in the month of March 2020, which showed some unexpected figures of visitors' footfall in Union Territory of J&K.
As per data furnished by UT Administration, instead of using the word, "Tourists", the word "Guest Checked in areas of Jammu and Kashmir", has been used. According to the data, in the month of August 2019, a total of 1008748 had checked in, while for the month of September 2019, a total of 1123931 guests had checked in while for the month of October 2019, 1277673 guests had checked in. The overall data of guests checked in showed an upward trend, which is quite confusing as where these guests had checked in, which was more than one lakh guests in comparison to each month.
"From the given data it can be assumed that the tourists flow in Kashmir region made no difference to the overall footfall of guests in Jammu and Kashmir. The increase or decrease of tourist's footfall could only be compared to the previous years' figures and not comparison of only three months, which is playing with the data and hiding the truth by selectively showing the data", an official said, adding that such practice should be discouraged by the administration for larger good of the society. |
