50000 tourists have left Valley: Director Tourism
Kashmir tourism has been hard hit by the ongoing civil unrest with around 50000 tourists leaving the valley, according to officials, in the last week and many more cancelling their trips.
Speaking to Kashmir Post, Director Tourism, Mehmood Shah said: “The tourism has come down drastically by 90 percent in six days. Around 50,000 tourists have left Kashmir and the arrival is almost equal to zero.”
Shah said the department of tourism has made arrangements for safe departure of tourists from the valley. He said a tent has been erected at Srinagar airport where the passengers are taking temporary shelter.
Tourists in large numbers were witnessed booking cabs at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) Srinagar and rushing toward Srinagar airport to leave the valley.
Officials said most of the tourists could not make it to the places which they had booked. They said they preferred not to leave from the hotels where they were putting up.
The tour and travel agencies are facing tough time as tourists who had booked their trips through private agencies are asking for refund.
“We are currently facing huge problem as tourists are demanding refunds and are asking us to make arrangements for their departure. It is very difficult for us to do so at this time. We tried to approach tourism department but due to communication breakdown we couldn’t do it either,” a prominent Srinagar-based travel agent said.
The summer unrest has also hit the wedding season with hundreds of functions cancelled in last one week. The local newspapers have been carrying scores of notices regarding cancellation of marriage invitations every day.
Violent protests erupted last weekend after the killing of young militant commander Burhan Wani who had been the face of Kashmir’s militancy in the recent past. Over 40 persons have been killed in the latest cycle of violence with over 1,500 injured being treated in various hospitals.
