It is true that one man’s loss is another man’s gain and the story is being replicated in Jammu and Kashmir as far as tourism and trade is concerned. The fact has been endorsed by none other than the Secretary Tourism, Farooq Ahmed Shah while reviewing the progress of Tourism Department. There is no denial of the fact that the ongoing unrest has snatched another fruitful season from the hands of Kashmiris and watered down all the expectations of the government in terms of revenue garnering. The year 2015 witnessed the resurgence of tourism in Kashmir Valley after vigorous promotional campaign launched by the department and the efforts supplemented by the private tourism stakeholders resulted in increase in arrivals this year. This compelled the private airlines to add more flights and this number went up to 37 with the introduction of evening flights. On the other hand the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh is reaping the benefit of uncertainty prevailing here. The Parbati Valley of Kullu has turned into an abode of tourists from different nations who have come to spend holidays. The influx of tourists especially a large number of foreigners, mostly from Israel, Italy, France, Russia, the UK and USA, are visiting the Parbati Valley. The main attractions in the valley are Kasol, Pulga, Tosh, Manikaran, Barshaini and Malana. Kasol has emerged as the main junction for tourists with over three dozen restaurants, many hotels and guest houses. Kasol in Himachal Pradesh is also known as mini-Israel as most of the signage are in Hebrew and even some of the hotel and restaurant owners speak the Israeli language to make the visiting tourists at home. High rush of foreigners to Parbati Valley has developed employment options for hundreds of villagers. Almost all villages in the valley have guest houses and homestay facilities. Even some of the enterprising tour operators have added Yoga tourism in their package which is also drawing large number of foreigners to the hills and many prefer staying for weeks here. Unfortunately tour operators of Jammu and Kashmir till date have not been able to diversify from the age old pattern to attract more influx of high value tourists neither they have been able to showcase the State in a better way adding to this closed mindset is the unrest and uncertainty prevailing because of law and order and no outsider wants to become a victim of this internal strife.
