By: Vijay Gupta
Jammu:- Jammu and Kashmir, is known as heaven on earth. In the seventeenth century the Mughal emperor Jahangir set his eyes on the valley of Kashmir. He said that if paradise is anywhere on the earth, it is here, while living in a houseboat on the mesmerizing Dal Lake."Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast." If there is ever a heaven on earth, its here, its here, its here. In Jammu and Kashmir the most important tourist places are Kashmir, Srinagar, the Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Jammu, and Ladakh. Before militancy intensified in 1989, tourism formed an important part of the Kashmiri economy. The tourism economy in the Kashmir valley was worst hit. However, the holy shrines of Jammu and the Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh continue to remain popular pilgrimage and tourism destinations. Every year, thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit holy shrines of Vaishno Devi and Amarnath which, has had significant impact on the state’s economy. Tourism in the Kashmir valley has rebounded in recent years and in 2009, the state became one of the top tourist destinations of India. Gulmarg, one of the most popular ski resort destinations in India, is also home to the world’s highest green golf course. This time around the tourist response has been stunning. Young Bites spoke to the Minister of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control and very strong pillar of Congress Taj Mohi-ud-Din regarding the mega influx of tourists and he had to speak a lot on the subject and the ongoing developments. And this is what he had to say!
VG: This year around Kashmir seems to be every tourists destination. Whom do you give credit to the Government or the people?
TM: See we have worked very hard in getting valley to what it is now. The result was that the people began to come to Kashmir right from March onwards which has happened after a very long time. Kashmir is a beautiful place and God has given it all the ornamental natural glory. The people know that Kashmir’s economy is dependent on tourism. Every one thinks of living the present nicely and making the future secure. If tourism is what the people are dependent on then it has to go on in top gear. The people are ensuring that and the tourists are responding in a way like never before.
VG: Kashmir and the people have seen the worst of days. The future augurs well after seeing the rush of the tourists. What have you to say on this?
TM: bad and worst are part of the life. Kashmiris have seen it all in the last 22 years but there is always a tomorrow. Kashmiris have seen that tomorrow. They want peace and tranquility to prevail so that they too can earn their Rozi- Roti (Bread and butter) provided everything remains as it is now.
VG: This time the rush of tourists has been phenomenal and its being seen that there is lack of accommodation and the tourists are complaining about it?
TM: To be honest we never expected the big flood of humanity coming to Kashmir. It was a stunner for us too. With such a boom the people to have begun to think ahead. Requisite infrastructure has to be increased which the Government and the people would be doing in the future. Everything takes time. This too will but we have to be patient for a very happy future.
VG: Home stay was a new concept that began for accommodating the tourist influx and it was a big hit this time. Will you be encouraging it in the next season?
TM: Yes people came forward to accommodate the tourists who were not finding accommodation. Yes it also gave an opportunity to the people to make some money. Yes we are formalizing this and the department of tourism is working on it.
VG: With such huge rush how have you innovated to make sure that tourists go back a satisfied lot?
TM: I was surprised, rather stunned when I acme to know that the tourists are staying as paying guests in Srinagar Down Town area. This has never happened before. The tourists enjoyed the lavish and extravagant Kashmiri hospitality and every one had all the best adjectives regarding the same. These tourists are our ambassadors who will go to nooks and corners of India and will have a good thing to speak about Kashmir and Kashmiris.
VG: To accommodate the mega influx of the tourists you have created camps with tentage accommodation. Are the tourists enjoying themselves in this camp atmosphere?
TM: Oh! Yes. We have given a campers feel to the camps. The people coming from the concrete jungle atmosphere are enjoying themselves in the tentage accommodation and many have said that is just delightful.
VG: So in a nut shell the people are the driving force for getting Kashmir to the good old days?
TM: I will put it this way, who does not like development? Everyone is thinking progressively and so are the Kashmiris. They know what is good for them and what is not. The younger crowd has had a major role to play in this regard and they are doing it in a very sensible way.
VG: Separatists at some time or the other do try to disturb the calmness. What have you to say on this?
TM: They have their own view point and in some place the people do pull down their shutters to avoid damage to the shops. But where the tourism is blossoming everything is open and tourists are enjoying themselves in a big way.
VG: But still there are elements who vitiate the atmosphere in some way or the other. What have you to say on this?
TM: See for some time here onwards it will happen and ultimately it is the people who will stem it and ensure that these elements are cast aside. I will sum it up in a one liner, ‘People know what is good for them and what is bad’. Period!
So this was Minister of PHE, Irrigation and Flood control Taj Mohi-ud-Din for you speaking on tourist boom in Kashmir. Next time we will be there with yet another personality speaking on people related issues. So see you till I see you again next time!