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The
beginning of 1989 witnessed a perceptible declivity of tourism
industry in the state. However, a small number of tourists still
visited the state during the beginning of the militancy but it
totally halted when militants abducted six foreign nationals and
beheaded one of them. The fate of other four could not be known till
today, however one managed to free himself from their clutches. The
abduction of these foreign nationals especially the beheading and brutal
killing of one of these shocked the world and sent a clear cut
warning that Kashmir is no more safe for the tourists. Apart from
killing and abduction of the six foreign nationals the militants
also abducted a 14 Member tourist group which had come from Israel
from a houseboat in Nagin lake. While shifting the inductees to a
hide out the Israeli's pounced upon the accompanying militants and
succeeded in killing all of them. In the face to face fight the
Israeli youths managed to escape from their custody but in the
scuffle three of their friends lost lives.
In
one more incident two boys from Uttar Pradesh while visiting the
famous Mughal Garden " Nishat Bagh " were captured by
militants and locked inside a small hut and roasted alive after
setting it on fire. Besides hundreds of such instances, the attacks
on the pilgrims of Swami Amar Nath Yatra at Pahalgam have been among
the most heinous incidents. While many of the countries have already
advised their nationals not to visit Kashmir there are very few
foreigners who visit the Valley at considerable personal risk.
Equally the domestic tourists are also apprehensive about the latest
situation as such they too refrain from visiting the state.
However,
a fraction of both foreign as well as domestic visitors still visit
some of the tourist spots at their own risk. While there has been no
let up in militancy related incidents the Chief Minister Mufti Syed
is trying hard to sell the state's tourism to outsiders on the
assurances that peace has returned to the Valley. In this attempt he
is making trips to the stalwarts of bollywood to restart shooting of
their films in the valley besides visiting the business houses to
start ventures in the state. So far Mufti achieved little success in
luring the filmmakers to the valley however, he succeeded in
bringing in Embassy officials of different countries to play golf at
the picturesque spring meadows golf club.
Mufti's
appeal to Government on holding international Seminars and
Conferences etc. in the valley also received positive responses as
the Congress has conceded to hold Chief Ministers conclave in the
Valley. In addition, Tourism Minister Jagmohan has called a meeting
of senior officers from the ASI from the Centre and the state to
work out a phased programme for reviving the ailing tourism industry
of the state. The Ministry has already sanctioned Rs 5 Crore for
developing various projects in the state in the first phase. These
include Rs 1 Crore for the development of Kheerbhawani and Baba
Reshi Complex. Revival of tourism in the state is a welcome step as
the industry is the backbone of the state providing bread and butter
to majority of people. But it should not be at the cost of hundreds
of innocent foreign as well as domestic tourists.
In
addition to work on the revival of tourism and development of
infrastructure etc the Government at both Centre as well as State
must give true picture of the prevailing situation so that lives of
the tourists are not put to risk. The Government must take every
care to ensure the safety of the tourists before stepping into the
net of Mufti Sayeed who like the proverbial spider entices the
gullible fly to come into his parlour.
Kamlaish
Vakil is
Contributing Editor, Weekly Kashur Gazette, New Delhi | 
