“With Chief Minister Omar Abdullah calling for close cooperation and coordination between the Jammu & Kashmir Government, Jammu & Kashmir Lt Governor and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) the initiatives for the security and safety of tourist are likely to follow in coming weeks amid preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra.”
Two back to back Cabinet meetings held in Pahalgam and Gulmarg by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah deliver a message that Jammu & Kashmir Government is not deterred by terror attack in Pahalgam and won’t rest till tourists flock in huge numbers to hilly resorts again. The interaction of the Chief Minister with tourist stake holders from several states and Union Territories of the country has given the local tourist stake holders the courage to take initiatives for restoration of tourist activities in Valley. A virtual reunion of the local tourist stakeholders with their counter parts of the other states facilitated by Omar Abdullah led Government is just a beginning of the initiatives the J&K Tourism Department plans to take for revival of tourist activities across Jammu & Kashmir in coming weeks. With Chief Minister Omar Abdullah calling for close cooperation and coordination between the Jammu & Kashmir Government, Jammu & Kashmir Lt Governor and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) the initiatives for the security and safety of tourists are likely to follow in coming weeks amid preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra.
Tourism has been the priority of both the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and as well as the Central Government for last more than five years and credit for unprecedented record rise in tourist footfall witnessed during last three years undoubtedly goes to Lt Governor Maonj Sinha, the Union Home Ministry, the Central Government’s Tourism Ministry and the J&K Government’s Tourism Department. Security and Safety of tourists flagged by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as such is not a new experience for either the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha or the Union Home Ministry. Conveying a message of cooperation and coordination over the matters related to security and safety of tourists to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and the Union Home Ministry and engaging himself with the travel and tour operators at Pahalgam shows Chief Minister’s deeper interest in reviving tourism amid commencement of Amarnath Yatra and mid summer tourist season in Kashmir Valley.
“Since experiences of decades have shown that a social security system for all practical purposes is always a great source of strength for the Government’s security system, the onus of strengthening bonds between the tourists and local populations’ lies on both the elected Government and as well as the local tourist stakeholders across Jammu & Kashmir.”
While tourist operators and local populations believe that commencement of Amarnath Yatra could be the beginning of a major revival of tourist activities across Jammu & Kashmir, the fact remains that public perceptions about revival of tourism can’t be changed into realities without reestablishing bonds of trust between the tourists and local populations. Since experiences of decades have shown that a social security system for all practical purposes is always a great source of strength for the Government’s security system, the onus of strengthening bonds between the tourists and local populations’ lies on both the elected Government and as well as the local tourist stakeholders across Jammu & Kashmir.
