Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Kashmir Once a Popular Destination for Tourists
Aired January 11, 2002 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You know not long ago many people went to Kashmir to enjoy its beauty, but as CNN's Jason Bellini explains, the once hot spot is now a ghost town as tensions remain high between Pakistan and India.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Mazir Jon (ph) has the kind of job that would make even George Costanza jealous, working in Kashmir's office of tourism.
(on camera): I mean no disrespect by this, but as assistant director of tourism what do you do all day?
MAZIR JON (ph), ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TOURISM, KASHMIR: Well --
BELLINI: (voice-over): What Mazir (ph) does and does well --
(on camera): It's very nice.
MAZIR (ph): Isn't it?
BELLINI: Yes.
(voice-over): -- is talk about the things Kashmir has going for it, as a tourist destination.
MAZIR (ph): The people who wants to go for trout fishing. We have a very, very good trout beach here.
BELLINI: (on camera): These people on here, what are they doing?
MAZIR (ph): They are my staff.
BELLINI: They're your staff?
MAZIR (ph): Oh yes. They are working.
BELLINI: Yes. They're working, what are they doing?
MAZIR (ph): Same what I am doing.
BELLINI: Same with what you're doing. MAZIR (ph): At the moment, not much work.
BELLINI (voice-over): As he shows me his brochures, Mazir (ph) tells me what I could have been doing in Kashmir if I was here 12 years ago.
MAZIR (ph): We used to have previously, but now we don't have.
BELLINI: Adventure tourists used to flock to Kashmir. Water rafting and mountain tracking were especially popular. No more.
(on camera): So there's no way to have an adventure here?
MAZIR (ph): Not at the moment. Even we don't have the skiing this time because we don't have any snow this time. The climate, and nature is also against us.
BELLINI: Playground of the world, you don't find that ironic?
MAZIR (ph): No.
BELLINI: No?
MAZIR (ph): No.
BELLINI (voice-over): He remembers when people in India and around the world thought Kashmir, and thought beautiful relaxing get- away.
(on camera): How long have you been working here?
MAZIR (ph): Since the last 30 years.
BELLINI (voice-over): Hotels in Kashmir accommodated thousands of visitors at once. Most are still here, still open, still elegant, still waiting for tourists to come back.
(on camera): I'm staying at the Intercontinental Hotel here in Srinagar and as far as I can tell, I'm the only guest here at the moment. I literally have three people waiting just on me here in the restaurant.
MAZIR (ph): Background is the houseboats.
BELLINI: Now tell me about these houseboats. What should I know about them?
MAZIR (ph): This valley was known as Kashabrishi Puf (ph).
BELLINI (voice-over): Mazir (ph) takes me to one of his main selling points. Houseboats the British colonialists built for their summer holidays, but now function as wotels (ph), water hotels. Okay, wotels (ph) is my word.
MAZIR (ph): See this carving? It is pure walnut (ph) wood carving. Very expensive. You come during summertime, we will go to the dock.
BELLINI: Mazir (ph) tries to convince any foreigner he meets to come back. It's his job, but also his nature.
MAZIR (ph): I hope you will be -- you will come - you will come, certainly, in your future, again.
BELLINI: (on camera): Unforgettable Kashmir, what's so unforgettable about Kashmir?
MAZIR (ph): The beauty of Kashmir.
BELLINI: That's what's unforgettable?
MAZIR (ph): Yes.
BELLINI (voice-over): Unfortunately for Mazir (ph), the world will remember Kashmir --
MAZIR (ph): You will remember.
BELLINI: -- but as a global hot spot, the kind even most adventure tourists avoid.
Jason Bellini, CNN, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
