Srinagar, July 2: Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) has expressed its dismay over the reported cases of harassment and inconvenience being faced by the locals, leisure, adventure and tourists in view of the security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra.
In a statement to Ziraat Times, TAAK President, Farooq A Kuthoo, said many tourists have got stuck on highways due to such restrictions on the movement of non-yatra tourists.
“Not only has such restrictions put the general tourists to lot of inconveniences but the travel agents outside JK have stopped promoting Kashmir till mid August bringing down the tourist influx abruptly,” said Mr Khuthoo.
“Kashmiris have welcomed yatris and other tourists alike for ages and no problem was faced by them. This year, the security arrangements have only compounded the problems and caused immense loss to leisure, adventure and other tourism segments,” said TAAK President.
Mr Khuthoo said “preferential treatment to Amarnath Yatra is affecting the Kashmir tourism badly.”
TAAK has appealed to the LG Manoj Sinha to look into so that non-yatri tourists don’t suffer.
