Tourists visiting valley under scanner

Srinagar, Mar 19: Jammu and Kashmir government has asked the tourism players to share details of foreign tourists they hosted in the valley during last two weeks.
Kashmir on Wednesday recorded the first coronavirus positive case, which prompted the administration to take impose restrictions under section 144.
Sources said scores of foreigners, many of them from coronavirus affected countries have visited the valley this month so far.
To prevent the spread of coronavirus in the valley, the administration has asked the travel agents, hoteliers and houseboat owners to share the details of tourists who visited the valley either by air or road.
“We have been asked by the government to share the details of foreigners who visited and stayed in the valley. We have been asked to submit details of places they (tourists) visited and people with whom they interacted,” President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Ashfaq Dugg told The Kashmir Monitor.
Dugg noted that the administration has also directed them to follow a particular procedure for recording the details of Indian tourists checking -in the valley.
“The hoteliers have been asked to ensure every tourist fills a form and submits his identity proof and contact details,” Dugg said.
Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday barred foreign tourists from entering the Union Territory as a precautionary measure in view of coronavirus outbreak.
Dugg said the majority of the tourists have left for their respective places, especially after government, issued the advisory on Tuesday.
“The travel agents are concerned about the safety of people and have stalled selling packages to the outside state travel agents till March 31,” he said.
Valley hoteliers said they have recorded details of every visitors.
“Those who were staying here, left today due to the coronavirus panic. So far we have been asking our tourists to submit a copy of their Aadhar card at the reception before checking-in a hotel,” said President Kashmir Hoteliers and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHROF) Abdul Wahid Malik.