Jammu, June 17: Bharatiya Janata Party J&K has criticised statement of Ilitija Mufti on X as anti- tourists and contradictory to statement issued by PDP president and her mother Mehbooba Mufti where by she has said that it is duty of Kashmiris to safe guard Amarnath Yatris.
In a press statement issued today Parimoksh Seth Spokesperson J&K BJP said that the recent remarks advocating caps on tourist vehicles entering Kashmir is not only disappointing but it also send a negative message about the J&K tourism sector at a time when thousands of families depend on tourism for their livelihood. Seth said that such statements appear contradictory to the recent statement issued by PDP President that Kashmiris have a responsibility to welcome and protect tourists including pilgrims undertaking the Amarnath Yatra.
If protecting and facilitating the movement of Amarnath pilgrims is considered the duty of every Kashmiri, then discouraging tourists and proposing restrictions on their entry sends a confusing and inconsistent message. Seth further said that the unprecedented tourist inflow to Kashmir after last year Pahalgam attack should be viewed as a sign of growing confidence in peace, stability in J&K and the hospitality of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Seth said that instead of advocating cap on tourists the focus should be on strengthening infrastructure, widening roads, improving traffic management, enhancing public transport, and creating sustainable tourism policies so that tourism sector can further grow as thousands of people of J&K are directly or indirectly connected with tourism and earn their livelihood through tourism sector. Tourists are not a burden but they are stakeholders in the economic growth of J&K Seth further said. Thousands of youth, hotel owners & employees , transport operators, shikara owners, and small businesses are directly dependent on the tourism sector. Seth said that any statement which portrays tourists as a problem damages the positive image of Jammu & Kashmir which has been built over last few years specially after 5th Aug 2019.
Message from Jammu & Kashmir should remain one of welcome, hospitality, and confidence and not of barriers and limitations and Ilitija Mufti and other such leaders are anti tourist and are hell bent to destroy the tourism sector of J&K which has taken a spike again this year Seth further said.
|