J&K: Tourism Sector Suffers Under Administration’s Failure.

SRINAGAR, Jan 08 : The corona pandemic has worst affected the people associated with the tourism sector in J&K. May a cab driver or a shopkeeper, everyone is struggling to have a one time meal a day. During the corona pandemic, the yatra of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi was put on hold by the J&K administration because of which many devotees didn’t arrive at Katra which directly affected the livelihood of people working here.

These people saw a ray of hope after the government gave allowance to restart the yatra but soon the hope disappeared as the administration limited the number of total devotees visiting Katra. Also, the corona test procedure at the Lakhanpur border greatly affected tourism in the UT. This procedure has put a full stop to the earning of the inter-state bus and cab drivers. The drivers have complained that no such procedure is followed in any other state/UT except J&K and maximum tourists are avoiding traveling to J&K because they are afraid of undergoing such procedure.

“Now our businesses are getting back on track as the flight and rail services have started but we still are facing problems because of suspension on the movement of inter-state services. We request the government to kindly give some relief on the inter-state services so that more tourists can arrive at J&K”, a person associated with the tourism sector said. (PTK)