Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Impact on the Tourism Industry in Kashmir and Ladakh

Abstract

Generally, Tourism includes all kinds of different activities which are associated with tourism industries like hotels and restaurants, tourist guides, transporters, shopkeeper etc on same way, it also include large number of small tourism related activities in different States and UTs because of their geographical areas like Ladakh and Kashmir region their mostly tourism activities are Houseboat, Shakara Safari, Gondola safari, horse riding, Trekking in mountain, Camel Safari, Jeep Safari etc. this type of tourism activities are mostly found in Ladakh and Kashmir region. Because of Barren Land and low agriculture productivity in these regions, mostly Ladakh 90% and Kashmir 60% depends on tourism industry. Tourism generates jobs income, employments; promote long-term growth, benefiting local economies in both the regions. Tourism is huge business in Ladakh and Kashmir regions. Tourism, the country's largest service industry, boosts the state's GDP, foreign exchange, employment, and tax revenue. The Ladakh and Kashmir regions are a popular tourist destination due to its successful development. Suddenly, the Covid-19 outbreak hit Ladakh and Kashmir regions just as tourist season was starting, dampening spirits. Travel and tourism have spread a novel corona virus that is highly infectious. This paper also discusses about the lockdown and has affected the tourism activities in these regions. The serious damaging effects of covid-19 are in 2020, resulting in reduced visitor numbers and travel restrictions, private employments, workers, etc in both the regions of Ladakh and Kashmir. Poorer people (tourist stakeholders) were also severely harmed; the findings show the covid-19 pandemic early effects on tourism and cost.