Tourist ban over but communication gag keeps tourists away from Kashmir

We are solely dependent on mobile, internet connectivity for bookings, say tour operators

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 10-Oct-2019

As over two month long advisory on tourists intending to visit Kashmir ended on October 10, major tour operators in the Valley stated that unless mobile internet and phone services are restored, tourism won’t pick up as bookings and travel plans are solely dependent on communication.According to the wire service Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Kashmir’s tourism players stressed that their job has been entirely dependent on mobile phone and internet services. Several tour and travel operators based in Srinagar has ruled out the ongoing cellular gag and stating that restoration of telecommunication channels are much needed before resuming anything in the region.Abdul Hameed, a tour operator based in Manali told KNO, “The cellular communication is the first demand of any tourist who wishes to visit the valley as many of my clients have cancelled their bookings before on the pretext of ongoing cellular and internet clampdown.”He said that a tourist usually visits the valley in order to fetch good memories out of their trips whereas many tourists portray themselves as social media sensation by being online during their visit to the valley. He further added that, “The ongoing cellular and mobile internet gag has already made our clients to cancel their Kashmir plans as it’s very hard to convince anyone to visit a place where the mobile telephony and internet services remains suspended that too for months long.”Anushka Sen Gupta, a tourist from Kolkata, who landed in Srinagar on Thursday, said, “I have been waiting for my cab for about an hour now and the unfortunate thing is that I cannot call him by any way.” He said that Kashmir is a beautiful place but without the means of communication it’s like visiting the no man’s land.  She further added, “I have been waiting for the rollback of the Government advisory and thank God I didn’t missed the very chance of visiting the valley right after the revocation of Article 370 by the Parliament.”(KNO)