Union minister links terrorism, tourism; J&K govt not pleased

“We will combat terrorism with tourism in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Mahesh Sharma.

Leaving quite a few flustered faces in the J&K government, Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said Sunday they would “combat terrorism with tourism” in the state.

The J&K government has always tried to delink tourism and normalcy. This is one of the main reasons the state doesn’t reveal figure of tourist arrivals in the Valley.

“Jammu and Kashmir’s identity is its tourism. Both the Prime Minister and state Chief Minister have realised this and pledged to take it to new heights,” Sharma said while interacting with the media at a tourism conclave in Gulmarg. “We will combat terrorism with tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who also addressed the conclave, said the PDP-BJP government would make J&K a premier global tourist destination “in partnership with the Centre”.

As Sharma said the Centre would fund a tourist circuit each in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh under its ‘Swadesh Darshan’ programme, Mufti noted that it is “important to gel Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as one entity” to connect it with rest of the country.

“J&K is at the cusp of change,” the CM added, “and our government will channelise the collective energies of the three regions.”

Sharma also assured Mufti that the Centre would look into his complaint regarding “skyrocketing of airfares” to Kashmir during the peak tourist season. Besides, the CM urged the Centre to allow nightlanding at state airports, Srinagar-Jeddah fights as well as additional flights to three state airports from New Delhi.

The tourism conclave at Gulmarg is expected to stem the spree of booking cancellations by tourists following heavy rains. Tourism trade bodies say the flood threat was exaggerated, resulting in the cancellations.

Source:: Indian Express