Srinagar, Jul 03 (KNS): Travel and hospitality sector has taken strong note of the highway restrictions and suspension of the rail services for smooth conduct of the annual Amarnath Yatra.
In a Statment, J&K Hoteliers Club has urged the government to withdraw such orders which it said has not only brought a lot of inconveniences to the common people but also leisure tourists whose itineraries have been disturbed.
Chairman J&K Hoteliers Club Mushtaq Chay said Govt should withdraw the order of suspension of vehicle traffic and train service forthwith.
"We have been welcoming yatris with open arms since ages and have served them to their best satisfaction. There was no need of making extra security arrangements which have only added problems for the common masses and also held leisure tourists hostages.
Chaya said Kashmiris have time and again shown communal harmony and secularism of highest standard which is reflected in the memorable holidays of the travellers.
"The restrictions on vehicular movement at a fixed time has put tourists to a lot of hardships and is sending a wrong signal outside. Such decisions are bound to prove counter-tourism. Our all promotional activities will go waste if such orders are not revoked," said Chaya.
Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK) has also criticized the government's decision to ban vehicular movement on NH and also suspend train services.
President TASK Mir Anwar said the leisure tourists are coming here to enjoy their vacations and spend quality time.
"However, they have been put to extreme hardships and inconveniences which has brought a bad image to Kashmir tourism," said Anwar.
He said if tourists leave with bad memories, it would only prove detrimental for Kashmir tourism in the long run.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
"We have been advocating Kashmir as a safe destination in our tourism promotional campaigns across the country. However, when in the name of security bandobast, the tourists are made hostages, it will give a wrong signal that Kashmir is vulnerable and not safe for travelling," said TASK President.
President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Ashfaq Siddiq Dug also echoed concerns over the traffic movement restriction and suspension of the railway services.
"The decision is neither trade nor people friendly. Such orders have put both tourists as well as common people to immense hardships," said Ashfaq.
He said on one hand government is making tall claims of promoting tourism and attracting tourists to this State but on the other hand, it is taking such ill conceived decisions which are bound to hamper , tarnish and put in question the image of the State's tourism sector .
TAAK reiterated that government should withdraw the order of suspension of both vehicular movement and train services forthwith or it would be better that they announce blanket ban on the leisure tourism during this Yatra period so as to save the intending visiting tourists of the harassment and inconvenience faced during the transit on Jammu - Kashmir highway or Sonamarg Pahalgam routes.
He said Tourism sector is already facing the brunt of negative publicity for last many years and such decisions are bound to further aggravate the tourism arrivals to state.
He said Yatra continued during the most turbulent times in the past but never ever were such kind of decisions taken .
TAAK hoped that government takes their concerns seriously and spares tourism sector from further going into abyss. (KNS)