Huge losses
Tourism sector has witnessed a huge setback post abrogation of article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. In Kashmir valley, thousands of families connected with this trade have been suffering without any government intervention to save them from present mess.
The J&K tourism sector has witnessed 70 per cent decline in revenue after the Centre abrogated Article 370, which provided special constitutional status to the erstwhile state. Such decline itself speaks volumes about the condition of those families who are directly dependent on it for their survival.
According to report, documents from the Union Ministry of Tourism have revealed that after the issuance of security advisory on August 2, J&K has witnessed a sharp decline of tourist arrival, hitting the sector badly.
The tourist-related infrastructure viz. hotels, huts, guest houses, houseboats got shut abruptly and occupancy came to a very low level; media recently quoted the documents accessed by from the Ministry of Tourism government of India.
The communication disruptions became one of the hiccups to restore the flow of tourists in J&K, the documents revealed. These media reports further said that such a decline being admitted by the central government in its report is an indication that it will take time for the tourism sector in Kashmir valley to come back on track.
With spring tourism coming after few weeks in Kashmir, there are no encouraging signs from the booking agents and other travel agents. They have told media that the bookings are almost nil and tourists are being encouraged to visit Himachal Pradesh instead of Kashmir. VOV NEWS DESK
