Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI) has urged the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to include tourism as priority agenda and take appropriate measures for sustained growth of its tourism potential.
The suggestions put-forth by HRANI included; Creating an artificial lake on river Tawi, below the bridge near Bahu Fort to attract tourists in the State; Tourism Resorts at Mansar and Surinsar; Development of holy sites at Purmandal and Uttarbehni; Shri Raghunath Temple having rich store of library, rare manuscripts, Jamwant Gufa; Exposures to Peer Babas, Proper development of Budha Amarnath; Shahdara Shriaf, Nangali Sahib etc.
The HRANI suggested further early completion of Patnitop Ropeway Project, which is hanging in balance since 2004 and Jammu Ropeway and Gandola Chair Car Project between Mahamaya and Mubarak Mndi Complex and the like.
The association said since tourism stands recognized as an industry the new industrial policy and package of incentives be implemented and made available under substantial expansion and up-gradation to the existing infrastructures of the hotels.
The HRANI suggested further that SPCB be asked to modify and relax its guidelines and should allow hotels and guest houses in the valley to operate to the extent of their full room strength.
Relief Package for devastation during floods of 2014 and the turmoil in the valley from July 2016 onwards be provided to hotel industry with provision of soft loan at the rate of 4% and 10 years Tax Holiday in respect of VAT, Service Tax or any other tax be also provided to Hotel Industry, demanded the HRANI.
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