Is J&K tourism deptt aware of India’s tense diplomatic ties with Malaysia?

JAMMU: While India’s friction with Malaysia aggravated over its Kashmir remark at United Nations, J&K Tourism Department, on the other hand, wishes to organize roadshows in the Southeast Asian country, in a bid to bring tourists from there to the Valley.
After the state administration withdrew the security advisory on October 9, Nisar Ahmed Wani, Director Tourism Kashmir, announced plans for intensive promotion in Valley, wherein, he said, “This year, we will have to double our promotions. Besides roadshows in metropolitan cities of India, we will also do shows in Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia.”
“Including Malaysia in the probable for roadshows, at a time when India’s diplomatic ties with Malaysia have been marred due to Kashmir remark at UN and extradition of Zakir Naik, is definitely not an intelligent thing to do. What are the state’s tourism authorities thinking?” asks an expert in International Relations.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had recently said at United Nations that India had “invaded and occupied Jammu and Kashmir”. Further, he asked India to work with Pakistan to resolve the issue. This had angered Indian government, and as such, it is reportedly mulling to restrict imports from Malaysia, including palm oil. Pertinently, India has been the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil, taking 3.9 million tonnes in first nine months of 2019, as per the data of Malaysian Palm Oil Board.
In addition to Kashmir issue, India and Malaysia are at loggerheads over the extradition of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who has been accused of promoting hate speech.
Another IR expert remarks, “Tourism, backbone of the state’s economy and a source of livelihood for lakhs of people, has been undoubtedly at the receiving end in Jammu as well as Kashmir region, amidst restrictions, following Centre’s move to abrogate Article 370. But this does not mean, in any way, to overlook India’s foreign relations when planning something.”
Meanwhile, tour operators and hoteliers from Jammu have accused the state administration of ignoring Jammu region’s tourism potential, and regretted Jammu Tourism Department’s apathy and incapability towards promoting the region as an independent and safe tourist destination at national and international level.
Raminder K Sanhotra, General Secretary, Federation of Registered Travel Trade Associations of Jammu and President, Jammu Katra Tourism Welfare Organisation, rued, “It is not only in Kashmir that the tourism sector is suffering. Here in Jammu too, it is on the verge of collapse. We have demanded for Jammu Tourism to be independent entity, with due consideration to its infrastructural development and promotion.”
He lamented that at a time when Kashmir Tourism department is putting in efforts for tourism revival, especially with roadshows in Islamic countries and initiating ‘Back to Valley’ program, Jammu Tourism Department does not care for local stakeholders living a life of misery.



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