Tourism business in Kashmir at a standstill after India revoke Article370,35A


The famous Dal Lake looks deserted with most of the houseboats, Shikars and Taxi stand closed for business.

Empty houseboats, vacant hotels and deserted resorts present a gloomy picture of Kashmir's tourism sector which is going through one of its worst phases after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution and reorganized the state into two Union territories.

Article 370 Explained

Article 370 allows the Indian-administered region jurisdiction to make its own laws in all matters except finance, defence, foreign affairs and communications. It established a separate constitution and a separate flag and denied property rights in the region to the outsiders. That means the residents of the state live under different laws from the rest of the country in matters such as property ownership and citizenship.



It has been more than 200 days after Indian government scrapped article 370,35A and reorganised the state into two union territories Ladhak and Jammu Kashmir.

Manzoor Ahmad Pakthoon, Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance(JKTA) and an owner of the BulBul group of Houseboats said that the tourist footfall is disappointing and discouraging after the abrogation of Article 370.



"Everything was smoothly before scrapping of article 370, tourism season was on its peak, unfortunately following government advisory asking tourists to flee Kashmir played spoilsport,"

“It is very difficult for us to encourage and motivate tourists from outside to visit Kashmir valley when the internet is not fully restored,” said Manzoor Ahmad.



“So far, this year we have witnessed only a few tourists,” he added. With the situation as it is, we do not see many chances of any revival this year or till March," a travel agent said.

The famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, which is a star attraction for the visitors across the globe, is calm and the only activity taking place there is of some outsiders having shikara ride.

The 60-years old Shikarawalla, Bashir Ahmad, blames government for their misery and sufferings for the last seven months.

“From the last 7 months we are waiting for tourist and the situation is so bad that many Shikarawallas switched to other professions after center scrapped article 35A and 370,”



Bashir along with other boatmen are in old age and compelled to continue this profession.

“ Now we cannot switch to other professions due to old age, We appeal tourists from the rest of the world to come to visit Kashmir valley, there is no problem here” appeals Bashir Ahmad.

50 years old Nazir Ahmad is a worried man. He hoped to do some brisk business at the tourist taxi stand on the boulevard road.

"When many drivers here failed to pay the rent and household expenses, they were compelled to sold their wives ornaments,”

“ Now we appeal the government to revive tourist business in Kashmir, otherwise, we will die in starvation,” he added.