Help Kashmir bounce back

After decades of turbulence, the people of Kashmir were beginning to find their footing amid peace, slowly gaining a stake in stability and its rewards.

- SHASHI THAROOR

Last year witnessed a record-breaking tourism boom, with 2.3 crore visitors flocking to the region. This resurgence offered the local people not just economic opportunities, but also a rare chance to reclaim a semblance of normalcy.

But this fragile equilibrium was shattered by the Pahalgam terrorist strike, one that pierced the heart of Kashmir's feel-good story of the past three years. Tourists, once full of curiosity and enthusiasm, were now rushing out of the valley, cancelling bookings en masse. The shadow of uncertainty loomed large, and in this climate, a reversal of fortunes seemed inevitable. This must not be allowed to happen.

The tragic event in Pahalgam has cast a long shadow over the valley's future, with reports indicating that 60-90 per cent of tourist bookings across Kashmir have been cancelled. A hotel association has reported 13 lakh cancellations for August alone. While tourism may not be a primary yardstick in most states, it is of immense importance to Jammu & Kashmir, since tourism is its largest industry, contributing approximately 8.5 per cent of the territory's income.