Why in News?

• The travel ban imposed on tourists travelling to Jammu and Kashmir has been lifted with effect from October 10, 2019, almost two months after it was issued.
• Jammu and Kashmir will now be opened for tourists like before.

Highlights:

• The Union Government had issued a security advisory on August 2, asking tourists to leave the valley immediately due to intelligence inputs of terror threats.
• The security advisory was issued just days before the government took the decision of revoking Article 370, withdrawing the special status of J&K.
• The order also assured that the tourists wishing to visit the state will be provided with all the necessary assistance and support.
• However, internet and telephone services continue to be suspended in the valley. The services were suspended and public movements were restricted hours before revoking Article 370.

Background:

• The massive security restrictions imposed by the central government in August 2019, as a measure to prevent any untoward happening after the withdrawal of J&K’s special state status, largely impacted the state’s tourism sector, the mainstay of its economy.
• While some of the restrictions have been relaxed now, the mobile and internet services remain largely blocked.
• According to official figures, roughly 1.74 lakh tourists visited J&K in June and 1.52 lakh in July. However, since the restrictions were imposed in August, no tourist has been able to visit the valley for over two months.