Tourism players have now urged the government to make foolproof security arrangements on the roads leading to famous tourists spots and ensure safety of visitors
Fifty-one-year-old tour operator Fida Ahmad Khan is a worried man. Following the death of a Chennai tourist in Narbal en route to the ski resort in Gulmarg on Monday evening, there are fears that yet another tourism season, that had just kicked off, will be washed out.
"Since 2016, I have suffered a loss of Rs 30 lakh because post-Burhan Wani killing, the tourism season has never stabilized. This year, we were hoping for good footfall, but the tragic incident happened on Monday," said Khan.
This year, tourism operators were expecting a good footfall given the promotional blitzkreig by Jammu and Kashmir government. For the first time, top tourism honchos of the country converged on Srinagar in March for 64th convention of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) to offset the negativity.
"We have met lot of tourists. We tried to tell them that it was an unfortunate and isolated incident and tourists are safe in Kashmir," said Wahid Malik, president, Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Owners Federation (KHAROF).
Tourism players have now urged the government to make foolproof security arrangements on the roads leading to famous tourists spots and ensure safety of visitors. "There are some places on Gulmarg road, Sonamarg road and Pahalgam roads where such incidents occur.. When you (government) can provide security to VIPs, why not tourists," said Malik.
Meanwhile, several tour operators from Kashmir have also started contacting tourists across the country to assure them of safety in the valley.
Fayaz Ahmed, one of the tour operators from Kashmir said, "we are approaching several tourists and we are speaking to them to give them confidence. We are taking responsibility of each and every tourist. We will give them the best possible treatment."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Tourism industry")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}