A Train for Multiplier Effect

The Rising Kashmir has been repeatedly underlining the importance of infrastructural for the tourism development in Jammu and Kashmir. There is no dearth of destinations in this part of India. In fact the varied geographical features and climatic zones has established beyond doubt that Jammu and Kashmir offers variety to both tourism marketer and tourist alike. Tourism is not confined to a destination alone but tourism is a complete activity. Tourism is a complete process that starts the moment a tourist plans his itinerary. And it ends once the tourist is back after completing the journey. In spite of the difficult terrain and being landlocked people from the entire world have aspired to reach Kashmir and feel the bounties of nature in the earlier times. There were different reasons for different people to reach Kashmir but one thing is clear that they managed to reach the valley in spite of it being difficult travel. In the present times it is not a herculean task to visit Kashmir. Means of travel have improved and people manage to reach the valley. Despite the availability of the highways and the airlines there has been a major chunk of people from the rest of India who have not been able to reach Kashmir. It is a well-established fact that the railways have emerged as the middle class friendly means for travelling. It connects the nations and has acted as the mechanism for national integration. Major chunk of tourists travel through railways in India and has emerged as the national lifeline. The newly launched Vande Bharat Express that connects Kashmir valley with the rest of India has received a positive response. As per the reports the train is booked completely for 10 days. This speaks about the enthusiasm that is guiding the people to visit Kashmir even after the Pahalgam carnage that shocked the entire nation. An important facet of this train is that it will connect the great pilgrim influx that is ever present at Katra due to the pilgrimage of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi to the Kashmir valley. The outcome will be the expansion of the multiplier effect in terms of economic aspects of the tourism money leading to overall infrastructural development of Jammu and Kashmir. This will lead to the emergence of a new tourism economic model leading to the tourism development of both Jammu and Kashmir. A wrong narrative is being peddled that the tourism business of Jammu will have an adverse impact. On the contrary, it add a new dimension to the tourism calculus by integrating both Jammu and Kashmir by acting as a connector to bridge the regional divide that was witnessed during various agitations. When seen from the perspective of tourism management there is a scope for expansion of multiplier effect from Katra to Kashmir and vice –versa. And this will usher in a new era of development. Trade and business will witness a new boom having a positive impact on the creation of new job opportunities. It will have a strategic imperative as well. As it will enable connectivity of Kashmir with the rest of India even at the peak winter months when the roads are often closed and airfare is too high for the common people to afford. Rail link to Kashmir will benefit in two ways. One by enabling inter-regional connectivity and integration in Jammu and Kashmir and above all it will integrate Kashmir with the rest of India.