National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah said on Saturday that Jammu and Kashmir tourism had been hit hard since the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
The terror incident has dealt a serious blow to the UT’s prospering economy, which was recovering after facing repeated setbacks since 2019.
He stressed the need to revive Kashmir’s tourism industry with the collaboration of the government and stakeholders. Reviving public faith is central to the revival of Kashmir’s tourism.
Farooq said, “Since the April 22 episode, tourism has suffered a severe setback. Tourism is essential for Kashmir’s economy. The poor and the well-off alike depend on it.”
He said, “Harsh winters in Kashmir shut our economy down for six months every year; that’s why, after April 22, we have tried hard to remove fear among the people of the Valley.”
“The Pahalgam attack was not our doing, yet we stood against it and showed the country and the world that we denounced the violence. It was an attack on Kashmir,” he said.
While some attempts have been made to restore confidence among the general public across the country, “It is good that our friends are promoting events; they even organised the golf tournament, so a message goes out at all times that conditions here are improving. Come and enjoy our hospitality,” he said.
The fact also remains that the entire security apparatus in Jammu and Kashmir is directly under the control of the Union government via the LG. However, predicting such attacks is next to impossible in a place covered with mountains, rivers, deep natural caves, and thick forest cover, which provide ideal hiding spots for the terror elements.
On the issue of statehood, he said, “Our demands will be fulfilled soon; God willing, this shall happen, and Delhi will pay attention to the issue. The Prime Minister will see the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to have their statehood restored,” he added.
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