Published in http://www.theregionaltourism.org/newsletter-Jan2013.php
For both India and Pakistan’s economic growth and peace initiatives, it would be recommended that more measures need to be taken to increase the level of tourism, especially religious tourism between the two countries. Ease of visa procedures for citizens who want to avail of existing CBMs (confidence building measures) such as bus and rail services plays a vital part in improving more tourism avenues with both countries. This includes Hindus and Sikhs who want to visit places of religious worship in Pakistan, apart from tourist destinations in Pakistan such as Taxila, and Pakistanis who want to visit religious shrines and other tourist spots in India such as the Taj Mahal.
Tourism, especially visits to religious shrines, carries on regardless of tension and obviously helps in generating goodwill. Couple of months after the Mumbai attack, some Sikh pilgrims who were a little wary of visiting Pakistan went ahead and received a warm welcome. Aside from the goodwill these visits create, there is immense economic potential, especially for the Pakistani economy, which is facing numerous challenges. Of course, the present number of Indian tourists and religious pilgrims is not contributing substantially to the Pakistani economy––a substantial increase in the number of tourists would definitely do so. Pakistan, has to its credit, renovated some important Sikh shrines and temples and also is working on improving accommodation facilities there.
The efforts till now have not been very successful though due to several factors. One of the chief reasons is procuring Pakistan Visa, a Sikh pilgrim has to travel all the way to Delhi and go to the pilgrimage centre in Pakistan. So a maximum 50 km travel extends to more than 500 kms! The best way of addressing this problem could be to have more Pakistani consulates in cities such as Jodhpur, Amritsar and Kanpur and add to the number of Indian consulates in Pakistan. Or visas can be issued twice a week in smaller towns from where there is adequate demand. This will be useful not only for tourists, but even businessmen and traders residing in the borders of both countries.
A “religious corridor” also has been mooted to augment visits and return on the same day. The Indian side however, has not responded much on this yet. Besides religious visits, many people would like to visit their ancestral homes, and such visits are a major boost to tourism related initiatives happening in both countries. In 2011, Pakistan-born Balbir Singh Bhasin, wrote to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari pleading for help in achieving, ‘the last dream of my life (namely) to offer sajda (respect) to my zameen.’ Within a few days Bhasin was issued a visa by the Pakistan High Commission in India. The visit was an eye-opener for the septuagenarian and all as he was received with overwhelmingly warmth and hospitality.
Visa-on-arrival can be considered for people born before 1947 or senior citizens. Some initiatives to attract travel agents on both sides to conduct group tours to re-connect to their ancestral properties, visit their villages and also meet and exchange cordialities with other people will not only help augment more tourism but may boost a feeling of goodwill and help reduce tension across borders.
The setting up of the The Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari is a positive step to boost to bilateral trade between the two countries and take them closer to the target of $10 billion. The ICP is not a boon only for traders, but a great help to tourists. The facility has arrival and departure jatha sheds for the comfort of religious tourists who earlier faced discomfort as they had no proper place to sit while completing customs and immigration formalities.
Speaking at the fourth Annual General Meeting of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) recently held at a local hotel in Srinagar, Rauf Tramboo, President, TAAK, expressed satisfaction over talks between India and Pakistan on Cross-LoC Tourism. “We hope in the near future, tour operators from both sides chalk out a single itinerary for tourists who wish to visit both areas. It was TAAK that coined the phrase ‘Cross-LoC Tourism’, suggesting that the Indian government add tourism activities across the Line of Control (LoC),” Tramboo said, according to a report by Greater Kashmir. “Such steps will boost tourism on both sides and will act as a peace initiative between India and Pakistan,” he added.
Written by Jayanthi Raghavan Iyengar ITEC India who lives in Noida (Delhi National Capital Region) and runs a Multimedia Development company. Over the last 6 years she has established a B2B catalog that now specializes in liaisoning, networking and fostering relationships with foreign travel agents and State Tourism Boards. She is also the representative of IIPT (International Institute of Peace through Tourism), USA in India. She is also the founder of a non profit initiative, Eternal Energy that is very active in Delhi NCR area. Jayanthi firmly believes in the established fact that tourism across borders is a strong mitigation towards peace and good relations across countries.
For both India and Pakistan’s economic growth and peace initiatives, it would be recommended that more measures need to be taken to increase the level of tourism, especially religious tourism between the two countries. Ease of visa procedures for citizens who want to avail of existing CBMs (confidence building measures) such as bus and rail services plays a vital part in improving more tourism avenues with both countries. This includes Hindus and Sikhs who want to visit places of religious worship in Pakistan, apart from tourist destinations in Pakistan such as Taxila, and Pakistanis who want to visit religious shrines and other tourist spots in India such as the Taj Mahal.
Tourism, especially visits to religious shrines, carries on regardless of tension and obviously helps in generating goodwill. Couple of months after the Mumbai attack, some Sikh pilgrims who were a little wary of visiting Pakistan went ahead and received a warm welcome. Aside from the goodwill these visits create, there is immense economic potential, especially for the Pakistani economy, which is facing numerous challenges. Of course, the present number of Indian tourists and religious pilgrims is not contributing substantially to the Pakistani economy––a substantial increase in the number of tourists would definitely do so. Pakistan, has to its credit, renovated some important Sikh shrines and temples and also is working on improving accommodation facilities there.
The efforts till now have not been very successful though due to several factors. One of the chief reasons is procuring Pakistan Visa, a Sikh pilgrim has to travel all the way to Delhi and go to the pilgrimage centre in Pakistan. So a maximum 50 km travel extends to more than 500 kms! The best way of addressing this problem could be to have more Pakistani consulates in cities such as Jodhpur, Amritsar and Kanpur and add to the number of Indian consulates in Pakistan. Or visas can be issued twice a week in smaller towns from where there is adequate demand. This will be useful not only for tourists, but even businessmen and traders residing in the borders of both countries.
A “religious corridor” also has been mooted to augment visits and return on the same day. The Indian side however, has not responded much on this yet. Besides religious visits, many people would like to visit their ancestral homes, and such visits are a major boost to tourism related initiatives happening in both countries. In 2011, Pakistan-born Balbir Singh Bhasin, wrote to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari pleading for help in achieving, ‘the last dream of my life (namely) to offer sajda (respect) to my zameen.’ Within a few days Bhasin was issued a visa by the Pakistan High Commission in India. The visit was an eye-opener for the septuagenarian and all as he was received with overwhelmingly warmth and hospitality.
Visa-on-arrival can be considered for people born before 1947 or senior citizens. Some initiatives to attract travel agents on both sides to conduct group tours to re-connect to their ancestral properties, visit their villages and also meet and exchange cordialities with other people will not only help augment more tourism but may boost a feeling of goodwill and help reduce tension across borders.
The setting up of the The Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari is a positive step to boost to bilateral trade between the two countries and take them closer to the target of $10 billion. The ICP is not a boon only for traders, but a great help to tourists. The facility has arrival and departure jatha sheds for the comfort of religious tourists who earlier faced discomfort as they had no proper place to sit while completing customs and immigration formalities.
Speaking at the fourth Annual General Meeting of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) recently held at a local hotel in Srinagar, Rauf Tramboo, President, TAAK, expressed satisfaction over talks between India and Pakistan on Cross-LoC Tourism. “We hope in the near future, tour operators from both sides chalk out a single itinerary for tourists who wish to visit both areas. It was TAAK that coined the phrase ‘Cross-LoC Tourism’, suggesting that the Indian government add tourism activities across the Line of Control (LoC),” Tramboo said, according to a report by Greater Kashmir. “Such steps will boost tourism on both sides and will act as a peace initiative between India and Pakistan,” he added.
Written by Jayanthi Raghavan Iyengar ITEC India who lives in Noida (Delhi National Capital Region) and runs a Multimedia Development company. Over the last 6 years she has established a B2B catalog that now specializes in liaisoning, networking and fostering relationships with foreign travel agents and State Tourism Boards. She is also the representative of IIPT (International Institute of Peace through Tourism), USA in India. She is also the founder of a non profit initiative, Eternal Energy that is very active in Delhi NCR area. Jayanthi firmly believes in the established fact that tourism across borders is a strong mitigation towards peace and good relations across countries.
