VOA标准英语2009年-Kashmir Joins International Aviation Map

Indian administered Kashmir became part of the international aviation map on Saturday with an Air India flight connecting the summer capital Srinagar with Dubai. Kashmir officials hope the flights boost Kashmir's tourism and trade which is struggling amid the continuing conflict involving Kashmiri Muslims who want an independent Kashmir.
　
Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir state Omar Abdullah, top right, looks on as India’s ruling United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and others wave from an Air India Express aircraft, the first international flight into Srinagar

India's ruling United Progressive Alliance's chairwoman Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the international airport terminal in Srinagar Saturday.

Gandhi also inaugurated a rail link connecting Kashmir's northern town Baramulla with a southern town Anantnag and called both projects an achievement.

To begin with, Air India will operate a weekly flight between Dubai and Srinagar.

Kashmir officials hope the international link boosts Kashmir's struggling exports and tourism. Mubeen Shah is the Chairman of the Kashmir Chamber¹ of Commerce and Industry. "This has been the demand of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a very very long time. With this there is a possibility of getting very high value tourists to Srinagar from Dubai and international destination. Second we can send our goods directly to international destination without routing them through to New Delhi. Our handicrafts, our handmade carpets are high value items normally sent by air and Dubai is a very important destination," he said.

Shah says it also creates possibilities of exporting cut flowers and fresh fruits from Kashmir.

Besides exports, Kashmiri leaders hope that tourism, which suffers because of the region's conflicts, will receive a big boost by the flight.

As Shah explains, Kashmir, sometimes described as the "Venice of the East," receives only a small share of the international visitors who visit India. "In Kashmir our seasons are different than the seasons in India. For example the summer season is very hot in India. Normally no foreign tourist will come to India during that time. But people, let us say, who are in Dubai, who have their vacation, it will be easier for them come directly to Kashmir which has weather similar to Europe and it is a very cheap destination," he said.

Adverse² travel advisories³ of European countries keep many tourists from visiting Kashmir. Shah says flights should be introduced to Singapore and Malaysia to bring in more tourists from Southeast Asian countries which are not affected⁴ by the advisories.

1 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

2 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

3 advisories   

n.（有关进展、动向、建议等的）报告( advisory的名词复数 )；公告；通告；通报

参考例句：

• Compliance with Practice Advisories is optional. 是否遵守实务公告由审计师自行选择决定。 来自互联网
• Hardened-PHP: not as such a PHP security information website, but it does have security advisories. 增强PHP:不仅仅是一个PHP安全新的网站，它还提供安全建议。 来自互联网

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。