Tourism being one of the mainstays of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy needs to be given special focus to ensure that not even a single tourist faces trouble when in Union Territory.
In this context, the step taken by Jammu and Kashmir Police in Ganderbal against 20 members of a self-styled gang, locally known as “16/96,” for allegedly harassing young couples and tourists at public parks in the district has set a right precedent and the cops and other entities having the responsibility to provide safety to tourists should also take a cue in this direction and ensure that J&K becomes a paradise for the visitors in real sense.
As peace has been restored by the efforts of central government and the resolute security forces, the next step by the people associated with tourism sector is to provide tourist-friendly environs across J&K to make sure that the tourist, who once visits the paradise on earth, shuns his or her plans to go anywhere else. There is no doubt in the fact that the hospitality of the people of J&K is phenomenal and therefore by tightening noose around unscrupulous elements who off and on fleece the tourists or harass them on one pretext or the other, an atmosphere should be created where tourists feel safe and homely, and plan visits to this most beautiful destination across the world again and again.
Action against the aforesaid gang is fully justified and the cops should ensure conviction in this case to set an example for others having similar intentions to fleece or harass tourists. It is important to note that even harassment met out by tourists from autorickshawallah, shikarawallah or a hotelier sends a wrong signal and can affect the footfall of tourists.
Take the example of Goa State, where tourism has been affected due to highhandedness of taxi operators and agents who used to fleece tourists.
Reportedly, many tourists have started visiting other places shunning their plans to visit Goa and if the stakeholders will not take action against wrongdoers in J&K, the same could happen to this region also, making it vital for one and all to pay attention to this issue and stop unscrupulous elements from harassing or fleecing the tourists in J&K.
