Sunjuwan attack may affect region’s economy, tourism

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 14

The terror attack at the Sunjuwan military base located in Jammu city and a suspected unsuccessful attack at the Army camp in Domana have the potential of putting a cascading effect on the region’s economy and tourism.

Traders and stakeholders in the tourism industry believe that such terror attacks in Jammu may lower the number of tourists and pilgrims in the state, particularly in Jammu province, in the coming summer season.

Three terrorists had attacked the Sunjuwan military station on Saturday in which seven persons, including six soldiers, lost their lives. There was again suspected movement today near the Army camp in the Domana area of Jammu.

“Such incidents send a wrong message in the country about the state. Tourism, being the main industry of the state, gets adversely affected,” Rakesh Gupta, chief of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.

“This is the time when people start making advance bookings for summer vacation. Such incidents discourage them from visiting the state,” he added.

“Tourism can never survive in the area which is affected by terrorism. It took us a long time to convince people that Jammu is far from the Kashmir valley and it is a militancy- free area. But such incidents will put us back in the 1990’s when people feared entering the state,” said Inderjeet Khajuria, President, All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association.

“The tourism industry is already losing tourists due to poor infrastructure and long-pending developmental projects. Such incidents will affect the industry adversely,” he added.