Kashmir’s travel and tourism associations have reiterated their full backing for a complete ban on alcohol in the region, emphasizing that such a measure aligns with the cultural, social, and religious values of the area. They believe banning alcohol will foster a more respectful and family-friendly tourism environment, similar to the model followed in Gujarat.
Dismissing recent claims suggesting they support liquor availability in Jammu & Kashmir, the associations strongly refuted these allegations, calling them baseless and misleading. They maintained that their stance is entirely apolitical and driven by a commitment to ethical tourism that upholds Kashmir’s traditions and social norms.
Notably, National Conference legislature Tanvir Sadiq recently said that Kashmir is a tourist state and tourism stakeholders should be taken on board before taking any decision on alcohol ban.
While acknowledging that the decision to impose a ban lies with the administration, the tourism bodies stressed their clear and unwavering position: alcohol has no place in a region that prides itself on its moral and cultural heritage. They also reaffirmed their dedication to responsible tourism and pledged to counter any attempts to misrepresent their stance. [KNT]