Rakib Altaf
SRINAGAR, Aug 13: If next year more foreigners flock to the valley than they did this tourist season, the government owes separatist leaders their credit.
A column written by a prominent travel journalist Paul Hansford and published by Australian tabloid newspaper Herald Sun mentions Kashmir as a tourist destination “with a reason good enough to visit” even if so far it had been an “unlikely” vacation spot.
“As one of the most disputed territories in history, Kashmir has been the scene of tension and violence between India and Pakistan for more than half a century. With the dispute threatening to end in nuclear war as recently as 10 years ago – as well as the region experiencing some pretty devastating earthquakes – it doesn’t top many people’s ‘Next Place to Visit’ list,” Hansford writes under the ‘Naked Traveller’ column.
And placing Kashmir as a ‘good place to visit now’, the writer substantiates his advice by quoting none other than senior separatist leader and chairman of the moderates’ Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.
“Why Go There Now?…The Kashmiri separatists have agreed to trade in terrorism for tourism, with the local Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq signalling an intent for more peaceful times by saying: “Kashmiris are courteous and peace loving people… We want that visitors from across the globe should come to Kashmir and enjoy it’s natural beauty.
Lying high up in the Himalayas, the scenery is literally breath-taking and a recently opened ski resort in Gulmarg is proving very popular,” the travel piece reads.
Although Kashmir still has a ‘Do not travel’ tag in Australia’s official travel advisory, many believe writings such as these could create a positive perception and help this Himalayan region to regain its prominence among foreign travellers. “It might take time, but yes things like these help in infusing a revised notion about Kashmir,” says a lawyer, Shumaila Wani.
Ringed by lofty snow-clad mountains, Kashmir valley was a famous spot for honeymooners, backpackers and others from across the country and abroad until an armed insurgency began in the early nineties since when tens of thousands have died in violence involving security forces and militants. With the armed conflict waning now, the authorities are working overtime to promote Kashmir as a ‘good choice’ among the famous tourist destinations.
Even separatists – who have been blamed for spoiling the region’s tourism sector – have recently expressed their desire to see Kashmir regaining its past glory among tourists, especially foreigners (barring the Israelis who, they believe, come with adverse intentions). Besides talking about economic issues, the Mirwaiz met a Japanese delegation last month and discussed travel advisories with them.
“Now you would think that these war-torn or disaster-ravaged regions would just give up the ghost and forget about attracting tourists but some places aren’t taking it lying down. They want tourists and are doing their darndest to get them, actively promoting themselves as new and exciting destinations – albeit for travellers with a bit of an adventurous streak,” Hansford writes.
Kashmir still falls under the negative list of travel destinations in may western countries. Only Germany has revised it so far and, media reports say, the United Kingdom might do it by this year’s end.
