Tourism has to be conflict neutral activity and should not be politicised: J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah
on Tuesday said that tourism should be a conflict neutral activity that should not be politicised.
Abdullah, who chaired a symbolic cabinet meeting at
Pahalgam
in Anantnag district of southern Kashmir, where 25 tourists and one local were killed in the attack on April 22, said that he had conversations with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, regarding some concrete steps needed for the revival of tourism in J&K.
'In my experience, I believe that tourism should be a conflict neutral activity and just an economic activity. Unfortunately it has been often politicized but our effort will be to insulate tourism from the situation here,' said Abdullah, while interacting with the reporters after the meeting.
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J&K CM said that the Prime Minister has also taken some steps for revival of tourism and he also held a meeting in Delhi recently focussing on the resumption of tourism in J&K.
'I also met the PM during a recent NITI Ayog meeting in Delhi. We discussed some concrete steps for revival of tourism here. I also met the Home Minister there. I cannot give out all the details here,' said Abdullah. Considering the Union Territory status of J&K, Abdullah said that here tourism is his responsibility but the security of tourists doesn't come under his purview.
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'Three governments have to work here for the revival of tourism. J&K's elected government, J&K's unelected government and Government of India,' said Abdullah.
The J&K CM said that the last few weeks were not easy for the country, but J&K had to suffer the most and the effort of his government is to sail through these difficult times.
'I expect that we will get maximum support from the central government. We will create a conducive situation for the return of tourists,' said Abdullah. After the Pahalgam attack that triggered a mini-war between India and Pakistan, tourism has been badly hit in J&K with 90 percent of visitors cancelling their trip. The administration had also closed 48 tourist destinations for the visitors citing security reasons. 'After the Baisaran attack, we had decided to conduct a security audit of some destinations. 48 destinations have been closed but it is time to review the decision and reduce this number in a phased manner,' said Abdullah.
The J&K government is actively preparing to participate in travel fares in the major cities to attract tourists like in Kolkata from where people visit Kashmir in huge numbers during Puja holidays in the autumn.
'We are hopeful that Amarnath yatra, starting from July, will conclude peacefully and all the arrangements have been made for that. But that should not stop tourists from visiting Kashmir soon,' said Abdullah adding, 'Other than Pahalgam and Sonamarg–two routes for Yatra– some other destinations like Srinagar, Yusmarg and Gulmarg will be open for business,' said Abdullah. He also met the members of Indian Association of Tour Operators at Pahalgam to plan out the revival of tourism here.
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