Tourism as far as Jammu Division is concerned hardly has any reckon. Forget about the Vaishno Devi, Amarnath Yatris and few go around the ‘City of Temple’ hardly there is any flow of tourists and very few stay back. The lack of holding the tourists back is what is important for the much needed promoting the business. Unrest is in Kashmir but the impact is in Jammu. There is negligible flow of tourists and whatever the flow before the over 80-days Kashmir unrest too vanished and now the border development. These are excuses for the floundering business. What ails the sector is Jammu has very poor infrastructure to sustain and retain the tourist traffic. During these days of easy reachability to go around Jammu for an outsider is a hell of a task. Poor communication and transport facilities and fleecing auto, taxiwala and traders work as deterrence for the growth of the business. Even the local rue about the fleecing attitude of these segments and what to talk about misery of an outsider. The success of any venture is that stake holders, partners in business and the locals are woven in such a way as if they are one single unit working. In reality there is no synergy and all the units work independent and remain non-linked. There is no synergy between private and government players. Every time a new government comes in there is always a promise and projection of completing the projects and a glimpse of what is going to come in future. Ministers go around the projects being executed and call for finishing before the deadline so much for the rituals-the finest example of government lethargy is within the Jammu city—the much publicised fourth bridge on the Tawi. From its execution to completion and till date it was marred in controversy from corruption to non-stop repair work. This was to decongest the city and allow smooth outgoing traffic. There is a need to rethink out of box to revive the fledgling fortunes of the business which never came out of intensive care unit.
