Malaysia Roadshow Jammu Tourism Deptt cancels, New Delhi invites participation

JAMMU: After having informed that roadshow can’t be held in Malaysia following tense diplomatic ties between the two countries, the Centre has invited the tourism stakeholders of Jammu to participate in the roadshow being organized by the Union Tourism Ministry in the South East Asian country.
“Organizing promotional roadshows in important tourist generating markets overseas is a good thing and should be done on a regular basis. Anyone would be happy to be a part of such activity.
“But how strange it is to come across a letter by Tourism Ministry inviting you to participate in a roadshow in the same country, which you were rather advised to not go to by J&K Tourism officials, just a few days ago!” says Raminder K Sanhotra, General Secretary, Federation of Registered Travel Trade Associations of Jammu and President, Jammu Katra Tourism Welfare Organisation.
He adds, “Jammu and its tourism stakeholders are being misled. The events that have unfolded since July 2019, such as cancelling all cultural events, stalling funds, obstructing hired ad agency from doing its job, etc hint at some nefarious design against tourism in Jammu region.”
“It also raises a question as to why Tourism Ministry is organizing roadshow in Malaysia, when that country has anti-India stand on Kashmir issue. Why is the government selective in its approach?” he asks.
Pertinently, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is organizing the last series of Incredible India roadshows in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand on 9th, 10th and 12th December 2019, respectively.
As such, the tourism departments of all the States and Union Territories, along with the relevant stakeholders, have been asked to consider participating in these roadshows.
Following this, Deepika K Sharma, Director Tourism Jammu, in a letter mailed to hoteliers, tour and travel operators of Jammu, dated 26th November 2019, has asked the desirous stakeholders to communicate their assent regarding participation in the aforementioned roadshows within a day, that is, by 27th November 2019.Further, she has notified that the participants will have to make their own arrangements for travel, stay, etc at their own costs.
Moreover, the timeline of correspondence between concerned authorities reveals that stakeholders are late in receiving the invite for participation from the office of Jammu tourism. The interested ones had to give their confirmation to the Union Tourism Ministry latest by 15th November, 2019.
Sanhotra mentions, “Jammu’s maiden international roadshow, originally proposed for 22nd June at Malaysia, has had the most unfortunate fate. After dilly dallying approach, Jammu Tourism’s publicity committee finally nixed it on 15th October 2019, citing the marred ties of India-Malaysia. We agreed, thinking in the interest of our nation, and started looking for other host countries. And here again, we are being asked to consider participating in Malaysia roadshow.”
An official source reveals that if a private travel association organizes roadshow, the concerned administration sponsors it to some extent. However, when Tourism Ministry organizes roadshow at its end, it gives free space to such stakeholders, but they have to foot their own bills for stay, travel etc.
“It is not right to give assent when we haven’t arranged anything – neither the money, nor the travel,” says a local tour operator adding that it might make him lose the opportunity.