Britain has lifted its advisory against travelling to some parts of Indian held Kashmir in the latest sign of the scenic region's revival as a tourism destination. Famed for its houseboats on placid lakes, clean air and mountain scenery, held Kashmir was a popular international get-away until an armed insurgency against rule from New Delhi erupted in 1989.
"We no longer advise against travel to occupied Jammu and occupied Srinagar, nor against travel on the occupied Jammu to held Srinagar highway," the British High Commission said in an update on its website posted Tuesday. "The improvements in the security situation has led us to lift the advisory against UK citizens travelling to both cities, occupied Jammu and Kashmir," British High Commissioner James Bevan said.
Bevan said the decision to lift the warning would boost foreign tourism and benefit the local economy. Britain, which first issued a held Kashmir travel advisory in 1995, still advises against travel to other parts of the region except for occupied Ladakh.