The tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhaderwah region is facing issues with popular spots remaining deserted due to recent terror attacks, cloudbursts, and flash floods. Residents, who are relying on tourism for their livelihoods, are now urging government intervention to revive the affected industry.
The locals complain that “they have never witnessed any situation in the past 8 to 10 years. The situation in the past two years has been dire. You can see the silence here. After the attack in Pahalgam, tourism numbers have fallen to zero. Many people suffered losses due to cloudbursts and flash floods in Kishtwar. No one wants to come here anymore.”
People have appealed to the local MLA to address the issue of Bhaderwah’s tourism in the Assembly and organise festivals to boost tourism.
We want our MLA to raise the issue of Bhaderwah in the upcoming assembly session. We have no desire for government jobs, but it could certainly help in reviving the tourism industry here,” said one of the locals associated with the tourism industry.
Seeing deserted tourist spots is sad; the recent flash floods have caused significant damage to the tourism sector.
"Previously, thousands of tourists visited the area; however, it’s completely deserted now. The local youth used to support themselves through the tourism sector, but now, they are jobless. I request that the tourism sector be revived as soon as possible,” said another resident.
BJP leader Daleep Singh Parihar criticised the delay in completing the gondola project in Bhaderwah and accused authorities of neglecting the region, leading to a massive decline in tourism.
The people here have built hotels by taking loans, and now they are suffering because of the decline in tourism. Bhaderwah’s problems are my personal problems.
“We’ll do our best to resolve them. This department is under the control of CM Omar Abdullah. When the Assembly first met, I mentioned that the Bhaderwah Constituency is the most beautiful,” he said.
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