Mubashir Bukhari
Srinagar (NVI): Already on crutches after the abrogation of article 370, Kashmir tourism may witness a tough summer this time as the J&K government has now banned foreign tourists’ entry amid coronavirus scare.
The UT administration on Tuesday barred foreign tourists from entering the Union Territory as a precautionary measure in view of COVID-19 outbreak. Besides, all the gardens and parks in Srinagar too have been closed.
The Coronavirus scare is now giving sleepless nights to the travel agents and people associated with tourism industry, who fear that their business will be the worst hit.
Most of the tourist destinations in Kashmir wear deserted look, while as famous Dal Lake in Srinagar sans visitors
The stakeholders associated with tourism feel that coronavirus could spell doom on their businesses. “Spring season is considered to be one of the peak seasons for Kashmir tourism as tourists from all over the world throng valley. But now with the spread of this virus and travel advisory, spell of doom is looming over us,” said Waheed Ahmad, a travel agent from Srinagar.
Last year, tourists from China, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong, United States and Indonesia formed the biggest chunk of foreign arrivals in Kashmir last year. Last year, 4572 tourists from Thailand visited the valley followed by 543, 731, 2918 arrivals from China, the US, and Indonesia.
Secretary Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Farooq Kuthoo said that people throughout the world are skeptical to travel to Kashmir because of coronavirus outbreak.
The coronavirus impact is also going to affect the flow at Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar, which is thrown open every year after March 25.
Keeping in view the current situation, the tulip garden is unlikely to be opened for the public
Director, Floriculture department Farooq Ahmad Rather said that date for reopening the garden has not been notified now.
Last year, tulip garden was opened on March 31 and 2.58 lakh visitors visited the garden.
President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir Ashfaq Ahmad Dugg said that Coronavirus scare has affected their business. “People are cancelling booking, like last year, our businesses are running in loses,” he said.
There has been a drop in tourist arrivals to Kashmir with only 6954 tourist arriving in December last year. Mere 3792 visited Kashmir in January this year.
