‘Negative Publicity’ mars Kashmir Tourism

Negative publicity by electronic media’ coupled with prevailing situation here has put the Kashmir’s tourism sector in dire-straits, with tourist arrivals to the state witnessing 50 percent decline resulting in huge business losses to the people associated with it.
As per rough estimates of the tourism department, the tourist arrivals to Kashmir have declined more than 50 percent than a year ago. The figures show that during the month of April this year around 67,000 tourists visited Kashmir, which is less than 50 percent of 1,42,761 tourists, who visited Kashmir in the same month a year ago.
The Kashmir’s tourism sector which is yet to recuperate from the colossal losses suffered by it during the unrest of 2016, has been facing lot of negative publicity especially by electronic news channels, which is acting as major hindrance to the arrival of tourists to the state.
The lesser tourist arrivals is inflicting financial losses to hoteliers as well as travel agents, who have to pay idle wages and fixed bills, causing huge financial burden on them.
“Negative publicity has marred our tourism sector,” said chairman JK Hoteliers Club, Mushtaq Chaya, adding, “During the Tourism Advisory meeting we raised the issue with the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.”
“There is a hidden hand to defame our tourism sector. Government needs to take proactive action to safeguard interest of thousands of people affiliated with this sector,” he said adding that they are working hard to promote tourism through promotional efforts.
President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said, “Tourism arrival is going from bad to worse in Kashmir. The decision of the government to hold elections in April which subsequently led to killings derailed the tourism sector badly.”
The tourism sector is yet to recuperate from the losses it incurred during 2016 unrest and now negative publicity is further marring its revival chances, he said.
Chairman, Kashmir Economic Forum, Showkat Chowdhary urged the government to play a proactive role in revival of tourism in Kashmir.
“While as other sector are recovering slowly but Kashmir’s tourism sector is still in dire straits following the colossal losses it suffered during 2016,” Chowdhary said that the “ negative publicity being propagated by the certain section of the media is proving to be disastrous.”
Vice Chairman, Travel Traders Interest Guild, Bashir Ahmad Karnai said tourism players are worried due to lesser arrival of tourists.
“Since 2016, the tourist arrivals have not picked causing huge losses to the tourism traders,” he added.