Srinagar, Jul 3: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday advocated restricting tourist transportation in Kashmir to Jammu and Kashmir-registered vehicles, saying the move would safeguard the livelihood of local transport operators during the peak tourist season.
Referring to the heavy influx of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourists into the Valley, Bukhari said local stakeholders should be the primary beneficiaries of the tourism boom.
He said the Union Territory of Ladakh already permits only locally registered vehicles to ferry tourists and questioned why a similar policy could not be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.
“When such a system is legally permissible in Ladakh, how can it become illegal in Kashmir?” Bukhari asked while urging the administration to adopt a similar mechanism for the Valley.
The Apni Party chief maintained that tourism serves as a major source of livelihood for thousands of families associated with the transport sector and allied trades, and stressed that policies should be framed to ensure that the economic benefits remain with local residents.
He urged the Omar Abdullah-led government to examine the issue and take appropriate measures to protect the interests of local transporters without affecting the convenience of tourists visiting the Valley.
The remarks come at a time when Kashmir is witnessing a significant rush of tourists alongside the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra. [KNT]
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