Contending that tourism promotion and closure of destinations across Kashmir Valley cannot go together, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rued that security agencies were continuing to keep dozens of prime sites in the Kashmir Valley out of bounds for tourists six months after the Pahalgam terror attack.
CM Abdullah, who inaugurated the Gulmarg Convention Centre in Baramulla district, said half of Gulmarg, a popular destination, remained closed for tourists. “The nearby destination of Drung in Tangmarg is closed. This is in no way helpful for the tourism sector of J&K. Those responsible for security should start opening up closed destinations one by one,” Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister also named the popular destinations of Betaab valley and Aru valley in Pahalgam among those closed. “What happened in Pahalgam should not have happened. Since then, a number of steps have been taken. But unless closed destinations are thrown open, our tourism promotion will be a futile exercise. If they are not open, there is no point spending resources on promoting tourism,” Abdullah said.
At least 48 destinations were closed in J&K after the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead on April 22 this year. Later, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is in-charge of security, opened 16 destinations, eight each from Jammu and Kashmir regions, in June in the backdrop of the improvement in the security situation. However, many popular destinations, including Doodhpathri, Tosamaidan, Betab valley in pahalgam, Aru and Aharbal, still remain closed for tourists, impacting the livelihoods of those who depend on tourism. “If we have closed the destinations, then we have to provide compensation for the losses,” Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister said that, on one hand, the Central government told the world that Kashmir was normal, and on other, such measures hit the confidence in promoting tourism in the region. “Closure of destinations and tourism promotion cannot run together,” the CM said. On Thursday he inaugurated the newly constructed Gulmarg Convention Centre, a state-of-the-art facility aimed at transforming the famed tourist destination into a global hub for high-profile conferences, MICE tourism, and winter recreation.The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of a Ski Hire Shop, to be developed by the J&K Cable Car Corporation, aimed at further enhancing facilities for winter sports tourists.
Describing the centre as a potential catalyst for rebranding Gulmarg as the “Davos of Asia”, Omar said the Rs 21 crore facility, built by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC),marks a significant milestone in J&K’s tourism and business infrastructure.
“It’s the easiest thing to build four walls. The real responsibility begins with their use and maintenance,” he said.
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