CHITRAL The kidnapping of a Greek volunteer from Kalash valley has put efforts to restore the tourism industry at stake which is suffering due to turmoil in the neighbouring districts.
Talking to Dawn here on Sunday, a number of people associated with the industry said that with the return of normalcy in Malakand region, tourists had started returning to the district gradually.
Although the season was heading towards its end, but tourists had started pouring in and many more had planned to visit the area when the incident happened, they said.
Expressing their resentment over the incident, they said it had led to the cancellation of tourists to the area.
They said that hundred per cent tourists came to Chitral to see the Bumburate valley in Kalash, which is famous for its natural beauty and the local people, who are known for their unique culture and lifestyle. Locals said that after the incident of kidnapping, the tourists were feeling insecure in the valley.
Hotel owners in Bumburate, Birir, Rumbur and Chitral city said that tourists left the area in haste soon after the incident. A taxi driver narrated a story saying that he was asked by a foreign tourist to return him to Chitral from midway to Bumburate when he came to know about the incident.
A tour guide said that the kidnapping of a well-guarded person from his residence situated in the middle of the valley, and success of the Afghan kidnappers to pass him through five security checkposts had become a big question for many people.
He said delay in recovering the Greek from the kidnappers had further deteriorated the situation smashing confidence over the security arrangements in the area. To restore confidence of tourists, hectic measures should be taken to recover the kidnapped person.
'Apart from the scenic beauty of Chitral valley, the ideal situation of peace and tranquillity was an attraction for tourists,' a tour manager said and added that tourism industry was feeding thousands of people in Chitral who were attached to it in various capacities ranging from porter to hotel owners.
