The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a fresh advisory asking British nationals to not travel to Kashmir.
FCDO, a government body, issues travel advice aiming to inform British nationals to make decisions about traveling abroad.
In a fresh advisory issued on 6th September, 2023, FCDO has asked the British National to refrain traveling to certain parts of India or else their travel insurance could be invalidated.
FCDO advised against all travel within the vicinity of the India-Pakistan border, except for at Wagah where travelers can cross the border.
Regarding travels Kashmir, FCDO advised against all travel to the region of Jammu Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar, and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for travel by air to and from the city of Jammu, travel within the city of Jammu and within the region of Ladakh.
“FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur,” the fresh advisory read.
In case of emergency travels, British nationals have been asked to avoid protests or large gatherings, follow the advice of the local authorities and your travel company and monitor local media and follow any curfew restrictions.
Pertinently, in 2022, the number of foreign tourists in Kashmir increased manifold, but people who are dependent on tourism for their livelihood say that the foreign tourists benefits them higher than those from Indian mainland.
Tourism contributes nearly 7% to Jammu Kashmir’s GDP generating around Rs. 8,000 crores annually.