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| Travel advisory reversals are okay, but what about millions wasted on freeloaders? | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday expressed hope that the visit of over 6.6 lakh tourists to the Valley this summer would serve as a clear message for changing negative international travel advisories.
"The (positive) modifications effected by some countries in the travel advisories regarding Jammu and Kashmir are a mater of satisfaction. We hope other countries will also follow the suit," Omar said addressing the 9th Annual Convention of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI).
So far 1.3 million visitors including 6.4 lakh Amarnath pilgrims have visited the Kashmir Valley, indicating return of good days for tourism sector, he said.
"This should be a guiding observation for countries to remove the travel advisories they have issued to their citizens regarding travelling to the state," Omar said.
The chief minister said the concept of relating tourism activities with the normalcy needs to be changed.
"Jammu and Kashmir possesses vast potential of adventure tourism which is gaining popularity and momentum globally over conventional tourism," he said.
The danger attributed to these adventure sports is simply a "misgiving", Omar said.
"The lovers of adventure sports undertake these activities in a safe way and the graph of its popularity is steadily rising," he said.
Seeking help from ATOAI to move forward in this direction and training of local youth, the chief minister said the state has to concentrate on improving and upgrading capacities besides raising necessary infrastructure.
The reversal of adverse travel advisories by some European countries on Kashmir is definitely a welcome step, but the Chief Minister must also have a closer look at the free lunches, free board and lodge and other uncalled for facilities those are extended by the State Government to many people coming into the State from outside in the name of promoting tourism and attracting more and more tourists to the State.
Every year millions are spent by the State tourism department in the shape of free lunches served to the VVIP visitors not because they are officials of the central government, but because they are businessmen, travel agents and other persons having personal relations with some ministers and senior bureaucrats of the State tourism government.
It would be the first step in the right direction if the Chief Minister could order an enquiry into the expenditure made by the State tourism department for undertaking foreign trips, for organizing tourism festivals, for inviting people as free loaders to the Valley who are not even remotely connected with promotion of the local tourist industry.
Precious funds which could be utilized for developing infrastructure are diverted to organize publicity and travel of ministers and officials in the name of tourism promotion which has so far not made any appreciable difference to the industry in the State. Yes, some blue-eyed officials of the state tourism department who have been sitting tight on their postings for more than two decades have earned for themselves good friends and goodwill among the influential people outside the state. All this in the name of promoting J&K tourism. |
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