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G20: India will maintain its third G20 Tourism Working Group assembly in Srinagar throughout May 22-24, 2023. This occasion might be vital for Jammu and Kashmir (J&Ok), as it will likely be the primary main worldwide gathering to happen there since August 2019, when the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories (UTs) of J&Ok and Ladakh, and its distinct authorized standing underneath Article 370 of the Constitution was abolished.
Taking the area’s climate into consideration, the months of April-June have been chosen as the best months for internet hosting the G20 tourism stakeholders’ assembly in Srinagar and Leh because the Valley seems most picturesque throughout this era.
Rs 7.5 crore renovation effort underway in J&Ok
The Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), situated on the Dal Lake, would be the main web site for internet hosting the G20 meetings. The venue is present process a renovation value Rs 7.5 crore, which includes updating the digital infrastructure and refurbishing the inside and exterior. Preparations for the upcoming assembly are within the closing levels, and numerous preparations equivalent to multi-tier safety and site visitors diversions are additionally being deliberate.
During the three-day occasion, discussions will happen in Srinagar, and the overseas delegates could have the chance to go sightseeing in Baramulla, Dachigam National Park, and the ski resort of Gulmarg.
Furthermore, the Narbal-Gulmarg highway stretch from Srinagar is being upgraded, and the Nehru Guest House, together with different huts in Chashmeshahi, is being renovated.
The UT administration has established a devoted medical process pressure that features superior life help cell ambulances on the occasion and tour areas.
In addition to G20 members, delegates from visitor nations and numerous worldwide organizations will take part within the summit. On the eve of the occasion, a serious occasion might be held to promote movie tourism, which the UT authorities has been actively selling in recent times.
G20 assembly scheduled amidst Opposition from neighbouring nations
The upcoming high-profile assembly in Srinagar will present India with a chance to reveal it to the world that normalcy has been restored within the Union Territory.
Despite opposition from Pakistan and China, India has determined to go forward with the G20 assembly in Srinagar. Pakistan had urged its G20 allies, equivalent to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and China, to forestall the assembly from going down in Srinagar.
Numerous overseas nations, together with United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France have previously designated Kashmir as a no-go zone and issued journey advisories warning their residents in opposition to visiting the area due to security considerations.
It is time to guarantee these nations that J&Ok has turned over a brand new leaf and a brand new period of peace and tranquillity has dawned on Kashmir thanks to the proactive measures taken by the federal government to root out terror and convey prosperity to the folks of the state.
It is now crucial to fight the damaging narrative prevalent worldwide and seize a chance to internationally promote the UT.
According to studies, practically two million vacationers visited the valley in 2022. The G20 assembly can be seen as an opportunity for India to refute Pakistan’s false allegations of human rights violations within the Kashmir Valley.
The assembly is predicted to enhance tourism, create financial advantages, generate employment for locals, and make the area a steady vacation spot for funding.
In February, the primary tourism working group assembly was carried out in Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, with a concentrate on rural and archaeological tourism by way of excursions and facet occasions.
The second assembly passed off in Siliguri, West Bengal, from April 1 to 3, and featured a facet occasion on journey tourism within the area. India has deliberate 215 G20 meetings for numerous working teams and goals to cowl virtually all state capitals and UTs.
Hopeful Prospects: G20 Summit will reverse damaging perceptions about Kashmir
Currently, there are numerous constructive developments as folks eagerly anticipate the upcoming worldwide occasion with optimism and enthusiasm. They search to dispel the damaging perceptions that the world has held for many years, notably for the reason that peak of armed militancy in 1990, which turned Srinagar right into a metropolis of frequent funerals and increasing graveyards due to the quite a few deaths attributable to bombs and bullets.
In the previous, as has been talked about earlier than, a number of nations, such because the US, UK, Germany, and France, all influential members of the G20, had issued advisories to their residents, warning of the hazards of touring to a deadly location like Kashmir and these considerations had been justified then, as terrorists kidnapped and killed residents from the US, the UK, Germany and Norway amongst others. All this whereas, when terror held sway, the abnormal Kashmiris held their very own beliefs and pined for peace.
They didn’t help any hurt inflicted upon home or overseas guests. However, overseas terrorists who didn’t respect native customs and in addition to native terrorists misled by Pakistani propaganda that advocated violence and destruction, silenced their voices.
Today, the folks of Kashmir, waking up from many years of false propaganda about India’s intentions acknowledge right this moment that that is the right time to undo previous wrongs.
In 2022, practically two million vacationers visited the Valley, with most staying in Srinagar or passing by, however this solely tells one a part of the story. While it confirms that Srinagar is protected for guests, the place nonetheless requires worldwide branding, which, the Kashmiris deeply consider, can solely be achieved by the G20 assembly.
The folks of Srinagar are actually keen to host a profitable G20 assembly which, they consider, will convey financial advantages. These advantages are usually not restricted to a rise in tourism but additionally embrace alternatives for funding and the potential to practice native youth in professions that may compete on a world scale. There is a need to elevate Srinagar and the Kashmir area to the standing of different profitable financial hubs like Shanghai and Dubai.
People right this moment consider that the correct ecosystem is now being created for the financial system to flourish, and it might lead to breaking down of political obstacles. The accountability to promote the concept that Kashmir is protected with out extreme safety measures lies not solely with the federal government but additionally with native stakeholders equivalent to political and enterprise leaders who’ve already expressed their help for the upcoming occasion.
It is essential that the occasion is just not portrayed as a response to the designs of the enemy, however moderately as a Kashmiri-owned occasion, delivering its personal strategic message to all, together with disruptive forces inside and past the border. Pakistani designs to spoil that atmosphere ought to be foiled in any respect price.
The folks of Kashmir have seen by the Pakistani gameplan and don’t any longer subscribe to the blind separatist ideology that forces from throughout the border have tried their finest to plant and nurture through the years.
It is time nations like Pakistan and China, now working in shut tandem with one another, should be made to realise that their plan to misguide the Kashmiris and use them as pawns of their technique vis-à-vis India has failed and they need to mend their methods earlier than it backfires on them.
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