LEH/JAMMU, Apr 23: Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Thursday approved a series of reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business in the Union Territory’s tourism sector by deregulating the hospitality industry and reducing compliance requirements.
As part of the reforms, several documentation requirements, such as character certificates, proof of requisite bank balance and educational qualifications for tour operators, have been removed, easing entry barriers and improving transparency.
Under the new framework, the validity of travel agent registration has been increased from one year to five years, while the number of documents required has been reduced from seven to four.
Separate registrations for adventure and mountaineering activities have been merged into a single unified registration for all activities.
Announcing the decision on X, Saxena said, “To give a major boost to the tourism sector in Ladakh, I have approved major reforms related to “Ease of Doing Business”, aimed at deregulating the hospitality sector, reducing compliance burden on stakeholders and creating a unified, streamlined, and citizen-friendly registration mechanism for tourism units.” Hotel registration norms have also been rationalised. While earlier registrations were valid for five years, the new system introduces a provisional registration valid for 18 months, followed by a permanent registration valid for five years,” as per the information shared by the LG on X.
The number of documents required has also been streamlined, with only two documents needed for provisional registration and seven for permanent registration, as against nine earlier, the X post said.
The administration has also introduced a single uniform category for hotel classification, replacing the earlier system of Category I and II (Standard, Deluxe, Luxury).
In addition, the number of documents required for transfer of registration has been reduced from seven to three, further easing procedural requirements, it added.
For the first time, provisions have been introduced for homestay registrations. These will now be valid for five years. Applicants can obtain provisional registration with two documents, while permanent registration will be granted after the mandatory training prescribed by the UT administration.
The reforms also allow cancellation and name changes, which were previously not permitted, with a requirement of four documents, it said.
Another key feature of the reforms is the introduction of an online autorenewal mechanism, replacing the earlier unspecified and manual renewal process.
The reforms seek to create a unified, streamlined and citizen-friendly registration mechanism for tourism units, including hotels, homestays and tour operators across Ladakh, officials said, adding the measures would not only expand the tourism industry in Ladakh but also contribute significantly to strengthening the local economy.
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