Tourism and Insurgency in Kashmir: Challenges and way forward

 

Javid Ahmad Ahanger

Doctoral Fellow, Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh India

 

ABSTRACT:

Jammu and Kashmir, called the ‘Paradise on Earth’ is an important tourist destination of the world. The place has been abode of attraction for both outsiders as well as across the India since centuries. However, since eruption of armed struggle and counter insurgency operations in Kashmir not only halts the governance but it led serious negative impact on tourism industry in the state especially in the valley of Kashmir. The valley once lauded as place of peace and home of tourism have changed into the most militarized zone of the world. The violent conflict between the state actors and non-state actors from last two and a half decades have created serious challenges before the policy makers and political leadership of both state and central governments. Although tourism is known as an ambassador of peace, but unfortunately this industry in Kashmir have received least importance in building peace and economic growth. In this backdrop paper study the impact of conflict on tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. The research paper further try to analyze the challenge to tourism viz-e-viz Kashmir is concerned and how significant contribution tourism can play in building peace in conflict and violent led Kashmir.   

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Tourism around the globe is considered as a major tool of development and in the recent past it has proved its potential by emerging as the fastest growing Industry contributing about 9% to global Gross Domestic Product 8.7% of total employment. Pre 1989, Kashmir was paradise in the true sense. The ongoing armed conflict that erupted in early 1990s has hit hard the tourism sector causing the loss of tourist appetite for this particular destination. By 1991 there was a virtual shut down to tourism sector, which impacted the economy of the entire state and percolated down to every house hold. Tourism was the mainly stay in the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, was deeply affected by various circumstances created out of the unsettled environment.¹

 

The Kashmir conflict is one of the most staggering conflicts in International politics and its persistence involving nuclear powers is well known. Though the parties involved in the conflict have their own perspectives regarding the cause and course of conflict, almost all agree that the region is in dire need of peace as well as substantial economic development. Besides damaging infrastructure of the region, the violent conflict has discouraged private investment, pushing the economy towards stagnation. Additionally Jammu and Kashmir is also likely to become a major hub for medical tourism if timely steps taken by the government authorities to exploit this opportunity. In this study we have tried to identify the challenges of the state of Jammu and Kashmir on the tourism sector.²

 

Jammu and Kashmir is known for its scenic landscape, beautiful valleys, lakes, snowcapped mountains, cool climate, skiing, trekking and fishing opportunities, and archaeological, historical, cultural and religious places all over the world. The state of Jammu and Kashmir has three distinct regions, viz, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. All the three regions have immense potential for tourism from both domestic as well as international tourists. While mountainous landscape of Kashmir valley has attracted tourists for centuries across the globe. Some notable tourist places in Kashmir valley are Dal Lake, Mughal gardens, Nishat Bagh, Gulmarg, Yeusmarg, Phalgam etc. Kashmiri’s natural landscape has made it one of the popular destinations for adventure tourism in South Asia. Marked by four distinct seasons, ski enthusiasts can enjoy the exotic Himalayan powder during winters.³

 

Tourism is one of the State’s major industries. It has played an important role for developing the economy, particularly in the valley and Ladakh. Being a labour intensive industry, it has given different jobs to a very large number of people and generated economic activities in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors in the state, which owes large dependence on this industry. Kashmir has been a center of attention for different people for different reasons all over the world. There are various places of tourist attraction in the state visited by the tourists. However, most of the places with ample tourism potential are untapped.⁴

 

Peace, Conflict and Tourism:

Tourism is conflict sensitive and positively responsive to peace. Conflict slows growth of the tourism sector if it leads to violence and threatens peace. Thus peace conflict and tourism are indisputably linked. Therefore tourism in Jammu and Kashmir in general is highly vulnerable to turmoil and can thrive only under peaceful conditions. Examining the figures and facts it can clearly be understood how hard the conflict affected tourism in the state. Tourist arrival was remarkable 7.2 lakh in 1989 but saw a drastic dip in 1991 when it was negligible 6287.⁵ The year 1987, last big season before the violence started, tourism accounted for approximately 10 per cent of the state’s income. During the next 23 years of unrest, tourism contributed virtually nothing to state’s economy. As a result of this specific incident negative travel advisories to visit

 

Kashmir were issued by various foreign countries.⁶ This adversely affected the tourist revenue generated by foreign visitors. Such has been impact of conflict in the valley that its main city Srinagar was once declared as the most threatened site in India by the World Monuments Fund (WMF), placing it on the 2008 list of Most Endangered sites (Winter and Punjab, 2010).From 8th May 2016 violent incidents certainly deterred people across India and abroad from coming to Kashmir valley, bad mouth about the current situation in the valley to keep the visitors away.

 

Tourist spots were totally or partially encroached by army camps and pickets. Many historical sites were occupied by Indian forces including the world famous Mughal Inns. Frisking kept the local excursionists away from visiting various tourist destinations especially far-flung ones. Collateral damage affected numerous cultural and spiritual buildings. Around 180 historical structures were gutted during militancy in the state.⁷ Such places obviously remained off bounds of tourists. In various militancy related incidents tourists were also targeted.

 

Pattern of Militancy Incidents and Tourist Flow in Kashmir Valley:

Tourist flow to Kashmir valley has increased from 10579 in 1951 to more than 7.3 lakh in 2010 at an average rate of 8 percent per annum. However during the period 1989 to 1995 tourist influx registered a negative growth rate because of the political instability in the valley. The major setback to the tourist flow has affected the economic stability of the state in general and squeezed the employment opportunities. However there has been revival of the tourist inflow in 2003 onwards with significant growth rate. The growth is more prominent in the domestic tourist flow than in foreign tourists. The number of foreign tourist to Kashmir Valley has drastically decreased from 67762 during the years 1989 to 2686 in 2002. Though there is continues rise in revenue generation up to 2007 but because of uprisings during 2008 in valley the revenue generation has shown down ward trend.⁸ Similarly the recent civil uprising during 2008 to 2010 has pushed the actual revenue downward and making this tourist destination victim of political instability which seemingly should have touched souring heights. The ongoing protests again have created further problems from 2016 when Valley was locked for five months.

 

Need to review Tourism Industry in State:

Tourism is perhaps the only sector which starts paying off immediately as it has no gestation period. The other developmental activities like roads, railways, construction, mega projects etc. take time to complete, function and pay-off. Sometimes these projects are delayed due to displacement, land acquisition, environmental problem etc. But in case of tourism no such delays take place and people are benefited immediately. For instance, as soon as a tourist steps out of his/her house, the benefits start flowing in terms of his spending on taxi, hotel, shopping, travel agent etc. till he/she reaches back.⁹

 

The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India has also launched a special program called “HUNAR SE ROZGAR”¹⁰ which offers short but quality training course covering food and beverages services, food production, housekeeping utility, bakery etc. for creation of employable skill among youth who are in the age group of 18 to 28 years. Recently a program has been launched for imparting skills in driving and stone masonry also.¹¹ The central Government has already formed various working groups to generate employment, confidence building measures etc. Hence, both state and central governments are conscious of the prospects of tourism sector in J&K and are therefore working tirelessly to capitalize on this potential sector.

 

CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD:

Tourist flows reflect the safety and peacefulness in the destination area. Tourists generally avoid areas infested with war, terrorism and political upheaval. Political stability at any destination is the key for promoting tourism. The turmoil in Kashmir badly hit all the components of tourism industry. Tourism cannot thrive in war and conflict, with the result new areas within the state with peaceful environment attracted tourists.The occurrence of incidents of instability and insurgency in destinations like Kashmir valley, have direct bearing with tourist arrivals Every violent incident has inverse relationship with number of tourist arrivals.Tourism is the life line of Jammu and Kashmir and all possible efforts need to be undertaking for retaining, maintaining and sustaining it. Tourism can play an effective role in integrating the entire universe.

 

The situation is worse when it is guerilla warfare in crisis: A strategic marketing approach, united and no defined rules are followed. The main outcome of this paper is that tourism industry of Kashmir valley has been continuously experiencing tragic incidents either at the onset or in the middle of tourist season with the result tourist arrivals decreases. The above analysis reveals that the Tourism sector in J&K suffered a sudden downfall due to the massive political disturbance which struck the state in late 1980’s. Prosperity was hit on all indices and development took a back seat. This led to a creation of a deep economic downturn which will take enormous time to reverse. Although Tourism in state has enormous potential both in terms of economic development and building peace, however the growing violence in one form or the other in post 90s have greatly harmed this industry. No doubt it was only in recent past especially after 2002 state assembly elections that violence come down which greatly put positive impact on tourism industry in the state particularly in valley of Kashmir. But the mass people’s protests 2008, 2009, 2010 and emergence of new age of militancy with that the counter insurgency operations created again a fear psychosis among the tourist as well as inhabitants of the state. The tourist industry hit very bad in 2016 when the state entered in yet another mass public political movement and state was virtually locked for all most five months, which again became hurdle in promoting peace and tourism industry in the state. The fact is if we want to develop the tourism in Jammu and Kashmir we have to solve the political issues because the peace is pre- requisite for development and tourism has great potential in creating the atmosphere of peace, security, development and prosperity of the state. 

 

REFERENCES:

1.        Mahapatra, D.A., Shekhawat, S,“The Peace Process and Prospects for Economic Reconstruction in Kashmir” Peace and Conflict Review,3:1

2.        Ahmad F., Yaseen E., (2012),” Impact of turmoil on the handicraft sector of Jammu and Kashmir: An economic analysis” International NGO Journal, 7,5:1-6

3.        Aljazeera (Available at www.aljazeera.com)

4.        Hussain, B., (2010), “Conflict in economy: Unrest and Kashmir’s financial system” Retrieved from http://www.thecommentfactory.com/conflict-in-economy-unrest-andkashmir% E2%80%99s-financial-system-3571/

5.        Neumayer, E., (2004), “The Impact of Political Violence on Tourism” Journal of Conflict Resolution, 48,2: 259- 281

6.        Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, (2011-2012), Annual Report

7.        Sharma, R., Sharma, V.K., Waris, V.I.S. (2012), “Impact of Peace and Disturbance on Tourism and Hoticulture in Jammu and Kashmir” International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2, 6:1-7

8.        www.jktourism.org

9.        A Report (2009-2010). Directorate of Handicrafts J&K: Annual year Book.

10.     The Greater Kashmir (Available at www.greaterkashmir.com)

11.     The Frontline (Available at www.frontlineonnet.com)

 

 

Received on 18.12.2017          Modified on 10.01.2018

Accepted on 21.02.2018      ©A&V Publications All right reserved