JK News Today

Srinagar, December 09

Former Director General of Tourism Saleem  Beg  sees a “window  of hope”  for the Kashmir’s travel economy  in the recent statement of Hurriyat Conference in inviting  tourists to the Valley to enjoy Kashmiri hospitality and  beauty of paradise  with a guarantee to safeguard them in Kashmir as per tenets  of Islam .

Hurriyat had said  on Tuesday that it would “ welcome tourists and pilgrims from all across the world, including India” and assured them of safety .  This statement has evoked  overwhelmingly   positive reaction, though some of the Hindu fundamentalist groups  have called it as  “ duplicity” of  Hurriyat Conference .

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Beg in his post on face book  said: “I have been trying to make sense of the statement of Hurriyat inviting tourists and assuring them welcome in coming season. The statement is significant for its timing. It is exactly around this time of the year that the trade goes to travel marts all over the country seeking bookings and this statement will come in handy while seeking business partnerships.”

“The trade needs to build on this inflection by securing tourist areas in the event of disturbances. This was successfully done by Sri lanka who have also gone through a similar situation. Now that the resistance leadership has indicated their sensitivity to this important segment of economy, the dialogue may be taken further and work on a Sri Lanka type approach to travel industry. Hopefully there is a window of hope that needs to be taken further with all stakeholders. I have keenly watched Sri Lanka – experiment over the years and given the right intentions”,

“see no reason why it cannot be replicated here. Let us accept it is a long , long haul and such innovations are critical to our survival as a Society. Once travel trade is sorted out other important sectors like education can follow. Rest assured it is not loud thinking it is possible.”

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