Each passing year our blue planet witnesses increase in the temperature. As per a report of NASA, the earth is now 1.2 degree celsiushotter than it was in the second half of 19th century. It is pushing world bodies to take serious actions to mitigate climate change. As tourism industry is a huge sector in the world, it can play a pivotal role to fight against climate change and other environmental issues. This year Saudi Arabia is the host of World Tourism Day 2023 with the theme “Tourism and Green Investments”. The whole concept of this year’s theme is based on sustainable, green and resilient tourism. Globally, in 2018 tourism foreign direct investment (FDI) was 57,411$. It is one among the huge investments of other top sectors. The investment in the tourism sector surpasses the previous records each and every year. As per a report, there were 1.5 billion international arrivals in the year 2019 and one among ten people does job in the tourism sector. As we know Covid 19 pandemic hit the tourism sector very badly but it also gave an opportunity to the world bodies to look for opportunities. In this regard, United Nations World Tourism Organization has announced that they are collaborating with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to provide technical training programs for the tourism industry in order to promote green finance to stimulate tourism recovery and ensure the development of a competitive and sustainable economic growth. The main focus of this project is on the investment of green and sustainable tourism. This program is comprised of three components; Green Investments Training, Green Investments Certifications and Green Investment Mechanisms. The idea of this training program is how to construct green and more sustainable buildings in the tourism industry by supporting governments and private investors. Kashmir is internationally known among the top tourism destinations of the world.Its increasing tourist arrivals over the years are attracting investors. As per a report of Hindustan times, Jammu & Kashmir has received 1.88 crore tourists in the year 2022. It is the highest enough number for any region of the country. It is being expected that these records will continue to break in the near future. From the last couple of years Kashmir also witnesses huge investment from the private sector. A number of new hotels and other tourism concerned buildings are being constructed by the government and the private investors without any proper policy. These buildings are quite for from the idea of sustainable design and green tourism. The lack of proper tourism policy and unawareness among the common masses may badly hit this sector in this region. We always remain stick to obsolete policies and trends. We are not ready to adopt new changes as per the conditions in the sector. Almost one year ago, an NGO namely Rubaru hosted a program at Doodhpathri in which many people shared their insights regarding the development of this newly destination. In this program an alumna of the Department of Tourism, University of Kashmir namely Ms.Ohmehra Jan shared some impressive insights regarding the development of Doodhpathri. She said, “Definitely development will take place here in one and the other way. Roads will be constructed and development will take place but at the end destination will face brutal consequences. In the inception, planning is utmost important in which local community must be involved. Tourism is not just meant for the purpose of benefits but it has severe negative impacts as well. This destination is very fragile and it may get disturbed as well as local community may also face negative impacts. The development should take place in eco-friendly manner. Environment should not get disturbed. In tune with the environment this destination should be developed, local people should get more benefits and the amount this destination will earn through tourism should be used for conservation of the destination.” These insights convey the message of sustainable design and green tourism.
States are in a race of giving deferent experiences to the tourists, a unique product. Tourism can prove to become a backbone for the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030. Government of India shall consider developing sports tourism in Kashmir. It has the potential to become world class sports destination because of its pleasing climate and active support of the local community. Our population has innate love for cricket so international cricket stadiums can be developed to bring sports tourism in the valley of Kashmir.
From the last some decades, the tourism sector of Kashmir was badly hit by uprisings and uncertain situations which left indelible mark on its history. The pattern of climate is gradually taking a new shape. Weather it is the record breaking hot waves of September 2023 or a sudden snowfall in the same month on some places, gives a crystal clear message to us that we must take initiatives to mitigate the climate change. Aftermath the Covid-19Pandemic this sector is witnessing a new hope and it is the best time to use these opportunities and motivate investors for the green and sustainable tourism. I personally believe that Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi was one of the game changer occasions for the tourism industry of Kashmir. It is because he walked like a loin on the streets of valley by foot which was not a piece of cake for any prominent minister. It was a walk that has completely changed the perception of people who reside in the other states of India regarding Kashmir. On the other side, to host G-20 like meetings in Kashmir also played a vital role for the tourism industry of this region. Additionally, The Central Government of India is also actively showing their will to boost the tourism industry of Kashmir and why not if this destination has so much potential. Hence, people around the world embraced that Kashmir is the safest place to travel and for investment. If we collectively make efforts to foster this sector, then a day is near to us when Kashmir will become the first priority to each and every tourist. From the veryancient times Kashmir has impressed many souls who left their footprints on this soil. Some fell head over heels in love withits nature and some were astonished by the hospitality of the place. In the praise of Kashmir Kalidasa a sanskrit poet wrote in his composition, “Kashmir is more beautiful than the heaven and is the benefactor of supreme bliss and happiness. It seems to me that I am taking a bath in the lake of nectar here”. These are the most pleasing words which give immense pleasure and blow the minds of every Kashmiri. There are plenty of locations which are untapped and can be developed as major tourist destinations, having the entire natural as well as the cultural resources for attracting tourists. Some of the significant natural resources are pleasant climate, beautiful lakes, locations for adventure sports, wild life, flora and fauna, border tourism, alpine forests, waterfalls, streams and manmade parks.As for as the cultural resources , the UT of Jammu and Kashmir has some of the most important religious shrines of Hindus and Muslims, historical monuments, plethora of local festivals, distinct cuisine, craftsmanship skills for intricate and fine woodwork, woolens, carpets, textiles, paper mache, etc. Kashmir is also known for dry fruits, saffron and the quality apples. We shall not always depend on nature based tourism and adventure tourism. Time needs to go beyond the boundaries. It is a competitive era. One state competes with the other in terms of tourist arrivals because every state knows the advantages of tourism. States are in a race of giving deferent experiences to the tourists, a unique product. Tourism can prove to become a backbone for the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030. Government of India shall consider developing sports tourism in Kashmir. It has the potential to become world class sports destination because of its pleasing climate and active support of the local community. Our population has innate love for cricket so international cricket stadiums can be developed to bring sports tourism in the valley of Kashmir. We can develop many other types of tourism to boost the GDP of the country. All we need is proper policies and to execute such policies with a more pragmatic approach. All the development shall take place as per the recommendations of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
(The author is an alumnus of Department of Tourism, University of Kashmir. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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