Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 15: The Jammu & Kashmir UT, Tourism & Hospitality Industry is totally shocked & disappointed with the lack of any support for them even in the 3rd COVID-19 package announced by the Finance Minister today.
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) in a handout issued here, today said that it had already submitted a detailed memorandum to LG, G C Murmu but no thought has been given to it till date.
It said the Tourism & Hospitality Industry of J&K is already reeling under enormous pressure from Aug 4, last year when the State Government ordered all the tourists to move out from the State in view of abrogation of Article 370 and formation of Two Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh. There has been a total business shut down coupled to the snapping of Telephone & Internet facilities along-with a total lockdown by imposition of Sec144.
It said the entire Tourism Industry of J&K was awaiting with bated breath some sort of a support from the GoI as is being given to all the various sectors – Industry, farmers, fisheries, Milk Producers etc. but all hopes have been dashed after hearing the announcements today. It seems that GoI is not at all bothered by the plight of this Industry which is not only the greatest employment generator in the UT but also ensuring a major boost to the economy of the UT through the tourists who are brought in.
It demanded a total Interest Holiday from Aug 4 last year till March 31 next year on all cash credit limits, loans and advances for all tour operators and travel agents, tourist taxi operators and contract carriage operators, houseboats and hotels. It demanded repayment Moratorium for 24 months of all loan installments including education loans availed from the banks, subsidising 65% of the salary being paid to staff by the tour operators and travel agents, houseboats and hotels as per their filed balance sheet, & ITR’s and outright grant of INR 10000.00 per month from Aug 1, 2019 to Mar 31, 2021 for each tour operator & travel agent company registered with Tourism Department.
It further demanded electric tariff on the same rates as the SMES Industry instead of commercial tariffs being charged right from April1, 2019 onwards along with interest free installments of any outstanding, 50% subsidy towards the minimum charges for electricity w.e.f Aug1, 2019 till March 31, 2021, soft loans with Interest subsidy for renovation & upgradation of tour operators and travel agents offices, houseboats & hotels including tourist taxi and Deluxe coaches and 100% subsidy on purchase of Diesel Generating sets and Invertors for all, 100% subsidy for the expense of hosting Web Sites and Internet connections and printing of publicity material, subsidised tariffs for participation in the tourism fairs in India and abroad and Income Tax exemption for entire Hospitality & Tourism sector on the same lines the manufacturing Industry is being given.
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