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Floods And Violence Kill Kashmir Tourism

SRINAGAR, INDIAN CONTROLLED KASHMIR, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 04: Zabarvan mountains are reflected in on the waters of Dal lake on September 04, 2015 in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian controlled Kashmir, India. Kashmir tourism industry experienced a major blow since deadly floods hit Indian administered Kashmir which killed over 270 and damaged property costing billions of dollars, The floods which hit the valley last September caused the worst natural damage ever in Kashmirs history destroying almost everything. Hotels, residential homes, schools, and hospitals were all affected resulting in damage surpassing billions of dollars. Tourism was largely hit as the hotels within the city faced a withdrawal of customers to below 20 percent after the weeks following the floods. The hotels were then advertising special packages that are usually offered at a double price. Tourism generates up to two-thirds of the revenue collected within the state making it the highest income in Kashmir . Since 1989, Kashmir has been a state under siege, with both India and Pakistan laying claim to it. Human rights organizations say more than 80,000 have died in the two decade long conflict with the Indian government claiming the number as 40,000, the floods were an added setback for the locals, furthermore tourism decline meant there was less income for the State . According to official estimates, four to five thousand tourists arrive every day in Kashmir, a number which doubles during the Hindu pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath but after the floods, the expected number of tourists is only 100s, an enormous decline in tourism market. Most of the hotel rooms are also empty with some hotels which usually experience a high number of visitors booking only 2 to 3 rooms. As a matter of fact, most of the tourists present in Kashmir are Indians.The floods have brought down hotel occupancy from 100 percent in August 2014 to almost 10 percent in September 2015,' according to governme

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