Germany eases travel advisory

In a significant development, Germany has revised the travel advisory through its Federal Foreign Office for German nationals traveling to the Jammu and Kashmir.

Germany has issued a new travel advisory by stating, “Jammu and Kashmir was considerably calm and foreigners were generally not the direct target.”

Germany has become the first country to modify its travel advisory for tourists visiting Kashmir. "The travel advisory issued by the FFO (Federal Foreign Office) for German nationals traveling to the region (Kashmir) has been revised," German embassy spokesman Jens Urban on record has said.

Most of the stake holders here believe that the revisiting of the advisory by German Foreign office is expected to give a major flip to revive tourism in the state. Hailing the revision by Germany, Director Tourism Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah told Kashmir Times that it was much need as far as tourism sector of Jammu and Kashmir is oncerned. “It is a great step, I am optimistic about the other European countries,” Shah added. 

Cheerfully, President Travel Agents' Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Rauf Tramboo said that it is a joyous moment for all the tourism related stake holders of the state. Echoing similar view on an optimism note he believes that other European and other western countries would follows the suit by revisiting their travel advisories for their nationals. 

While welcoming the move of Federal Foreign Office of German by easing the travel advisory for their national desirous to visit Kashmir, President, Kashmir Hotel And Restaurant Association (KHARA), Siraj Ahmad said that the hotel owners fraternity is happy over it. “The move would help the state in along way and this is a significant development for Kashmir tourism,” he adds.

It is the collective responsibility of us all to make the state a prosperous one as it has abundant tourism potential which needs to be tapped in a right way for boosting the economy, Siraj said.

Kashmir is not only famous for its leisure tourism but it has great tourism potential in other products, which being developed and showcased in a proper manner.  Besides, promotion of pilgrim tourism, golf tourism needs also to be promoted in a big way.

Worth mentioning, that the decision has been taken after the visit of Ambassador Thomas Matussek, to Kashmir in June 2011.