Growth Path: Over 10L visitors to Kashmir in first 6 months of ’22

Mumbai: Kashmir’s economy is booming once again and 2022 will register a new record in tourism in the valley, which has already registered over 10 lakh visitors in first six months. The best tourism figures recorded in the valley previously was 13 lakh tourists in 2012. A Union Government advisory, accessed by First India states, “Prominent tourist spots in Kashmir have witnessed advance bookings right up to October 2022. The next two months will also witness the proliferation of 25,000 self-contained tents at popular tourism sites to cater the needs of visiting tourists in total comfort and lead to an ease of vacationing.”

Co-convenor of the BJP’s Maharashtra Vyapari Cell Mahendra Jain said, “Similar to the southern state of Kerala, whose economy is highly dependent on tourism, Jammu & Kashmir was solely dependent on tourism right until 1989, when Pakistan sponsored terrorism raised its ugly head. Fear replaced interest to visit the scenic and beautiful regions of the valley and for last three decades this crucial industry was the biggest casualty that led to a sagging economy.”

Even the UPA had launched an initiative to revive the flailing tourism industry and tourism began to pick up in the valley that registered a record 13 lakh visiting domestic and international tourists in 2012. However, the impetus could not be maintained in the wake of the nefarious designs of terror groups who instilled fear of life into tourists and numbers witnessed a decline. Says Jain, “Contrary to former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti’s averments that the Indian flag would not be raised by a single Kashmiri if Section 370 was withdrawn in the then state, this did not happen. She was proved wrong with Tiranga rallies now a regular feature in J&K.”