Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 10: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India today said Kashmir’s tourism industry which has been badly hit by calamity has registered a steep fall of 55 per cent in business.
The largest employment provider, tourism sector in Kashmir has been hit to the extent of 55 percent in post-flood disaster, according to quick random survey undertaken by Assocham Social Development Foundation (ASDF) in the last two months, D S Rawat, Secretary General of Assocham said while releasing the industry body’s paper today.
Considered as a heaven for tourists, the state of J&K has suffered hugely due to devastating floods.
Assocham study said that thousands of tourists who had earlier planned their Christmas and New Year vacation in the Valley next month are on a booking cancellation spree and exploring other tourist centres, he said.
The peak season for domestic tourists going to Kashmir are mainly in October, November and December, Rawat said adding a large share travellers from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai people have re-scheduled their annual leaves during the Christmas and New Year season.
“There is a steep fall in tourism business to the extent of 55 percent in Kashmir”, adds the study.
“Floods in Kashmir have not only destroyed tourist infrastructure like hotels, bed and breakfast inns and restaurants but set back tourism for the entire State by at least five years”, says the report.
Assocham surveyed 450 tour operators from different cities and said 70-75 per cent cancellation of hotel rooms, airlines and trains have already taken place vis-a-vis Kashmir for the next 3-4 months.
“People fear being trapped and are therefore cancelling their trips”, Rawat said.
Many travellers to J&K have cancelled their trips to Kashmir and others are thinking twice now and are looking at alternate travel plans besides cancellation of the existing tour, he said.
The Assocham study reveals that tourists are opting for “safer places” like Rajasthan, Goa and even Kerala to spend their holidays.
The report further adds that destinations like Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur and Mount Abu have benefited the most with travellers making last minute bookings post shifting of their holiday plans.
Majority of the tour operators reported that people are scared to travel to the State even after the situation returned to normal, says the report.
Hotels in destinations like Gulmarg, Palampur, Ladakh, which are largely unaffected by the natural calamity, is facing a near total cancellation in bookings.
The hotspots include Dal Lake, Gulmarg and Vaishno Devi shrine. More than 35,000-45,000 rooms are available in Srinagar for guests in various types of boarding houses and lodges.
The Assocham paper further points out that people who make a living on the tourism in Kashmir are badly affected. These people earn enough money in six months to make a living for throughout the year. Some are migrating to other States and start over again, adds Rawat.
The paper asserted the cost of damages occurred to housing properties, crops, livestock, tourism- the prime livelihood in the affected area – destruction of transport and communication systems and breakdown of public and rural extension services, was very high. Adds Rawat.
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