Reviving Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir: A Comprehensive Discussion

In a recent meeting at the Civil Secretariat Jammu, the President of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Javid Ahmad Tenga, and the President of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association, Gowher Maqbool, engaged in a discussion with Ashish Chandra Verma, Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner (Tourism), to address critical challenges faced by the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

One major concern highlighted by Tenga was the significant setback experienced by the tourism industry post the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, leading to a substantial decrease in tourist footfall and widespread cancellations.

The economic strain resulting from this downturn has had a severe impact on various stakeholders in the industry, including hoteliers, houseboat owners, tour operators, transporters, tourist guides, and numerous daily-wage earners who rely on tourism for their livelihoods.

During the meeting, emphasis was placed on the urgent need for a well-coordinated promotional campaign to restore traveler confidence and support the upcoming tourism seasons. Tenga stressed the importance of timely and visible promotional efforts to combat the current slowdown effectively.

Additionally, discussions revolved around the challenges faced in the renewal process for registrations of hotels, houseboats, and guest houses. Tenga advocated for the implementation of a streamlined, digital, and time-bound renewal mechanism, particularly highlighting the significance of houseboats in Kashmir’s tourism landscape.

Concerns were also raised regarding the issuance of notices by the Pollution Control Committee to hospitality establishments amidst the existing strain on the sector.

Furthermore, the absence of a well-defined annual calendar for tourism events, infrastructural limitations in congested areas, fire safety compliance, airport facilitation, fee waivers during downturns, and the necessity for sewage treatment plants in major hotel clusters were addressed by the delegation.

Tenga urged Verma to personally assess the situation in hotel clusters and assured that the government is dedicated to revitalizing tourism and enhancing the business environment in Jammu and Kashmir.