Bandipora April 29: Following the Pahalgam attack as authorities are acting tough against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir authorities on Tuesday closed 48 tourist destinations including Wular and Gurez valley.
According to the details, non-local tourists will not be allowed to visit Gurez valley.
Locals residents said that their livelihood depends of Tourism. “We did not have any government jobs, we earned our livelihood with tourism. If it declines we will be affected.”
Mohd Hamza, a local resident associated with the tourism industry who set up a hotel after the ceasefire agreement with hopes of peace, says locals now fear both loss of economy and livelihood if ceasefire violations continue.
He also said that authorities have restricted movement for even national tourists which are the backbone for the tourism Industry. “From.local guides, hoteliers to local drivers 80% of people are associated with the tourism industry in Gurez. Government not have any source to provide employment to that population, so both countries will adopt peace so that locals will not be affected again.”
Another resident Mohd Ismail Lone said that the two nations should adopt the way to peace talk to each other. “We have been affected worse by this ceasefire in the past. Now we are afraid that if anything happens we have to leave our homes again.”
He also said that these border areas like Gurez, Karnah after the ceasefire agreement witnessed a huge tourist flow which had uplifted the lives of people affected by the ceasefire in the past.
“We hope and pray that peace will continue between the two nations.”(KNS)