On the macro part of it, there haven’t been any investments coming in for the tourism sector in J&K, particularly, Kashmir, which remains the hub of the majority of tourism-related activities while the infrastructure remains by and large the same, as a result, the sector has not flourished as it should have been by now because the expansion would come with more investment. On part of the Government, which has been garnishing and decorating the uniqueness of Kashmir tourism, the programs focusing on putting in place the necessary tourism infrastructure have remained missing—and if there are any, then they have not been quite effective in the year 2022 so far.
Although the situation may be quite different and healthy in terms of quantity, the quality of the sector has remained affected and has hurt the larger outcomes, which could have been much stronger and effective if the micros were functioning properly. There have been a variety of issues on the micro level that have created a barrier and prevented the sector from really flourishing.
While the government continues to pay no attention to the macro problems, the scant attention paid to the micro problems, where we had frustrating traffic jams that impeded visitors’ ability to move around, subpar management in the hospitality industry, a shortage of hotel rooms during the busiest season, and most importantly, skyrocketing airfares into and out of Kashmir from all over the country, makes no difference. While macros are important, micros also have a place where they can leave a great impact in the event of even a small disruption.
The Government has been working hard to help the tourism industry in Kashmir recover from the decline in 2019, but things still need to get in order. To do this, investments in the industry are needed, and it’s important to make sure that the necessary infrastructure is in place everywhere, especially at the new tourist destinations that have been added to the Valley’s tourism map. To guarantee the industry grows and boosts the economy of J&K, it is hoped that the government will address both the macro and micro factors affecting it in days to come.
