Tourism industry condemn attack on visitors in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 26 (UNI) Several organisations related to tourism industry in Kashmir today strongly condemned the attack on tourists yesterday in which four visitors from Gujarat were killed and several others wounded.

Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, Travel Agents Association of India (Jammu and Kashmir chapter), Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation and Houseboat Owners Association, at a joint meeting, offered heartfelt condolences to relatives of innocent tourists who lost their lives as a result of the gruesome incident here last evening.

''As we all know that tourism industry for the past 16 years had gone into oblivion. However, for the past few years with the efforts of locals, tourism was in process and picking up,'' they said in a statement here.

They said the revival of tourism had given a hope to the people concerned for a better future.

Majority of the people in the Valley were dependent on tourism and as such this vital industry needs to be safeguarded, they added.

''We humbly appeal to each and every citizen to play a role to protect and safeguard the tourists and the tourism industry as a whole,'' the statement said.

UNI AG MSJ RAI2036