Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 15: A delegation of the Chamber of Tourism Trade and Industry Katra (CTTIK) today met Satish Sharma, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, in the presence of Vikas Gupta, Director Tourism Jammu.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the flag-off ceremony of the Jambu Gedi Bus Service by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course Sidhra.
During the interaction, the CTTIK delegation comprising president Raj Kumar Padha, secretary Atul Sharma and executive member Neelam Singh, raised several pressing issues impacting the business and tourism sector of Katra.
Key concerns included the hardships faced by local establishments that have recently received Section 7(3) notices from the Municipal Committee Katra and the Katra Development Authority. The delegation also discussed the urgent need to promote pilgrim tourism originating from Katra and strategically divert and extend tourist movement to other destinations such as Jammu, Shivkhori, Patnitop, Bhaderwah and the Kashmir Valley.
Additionally, the need for prioritising critical infrastructure projects to enhance Katra’s appeal and attract higher tourist footfall was strongly emphasised.
Responding to the delegation, Minister Satish Sharma informed them about the Government’s latest initiative to boost cruise tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. He shared that the J&K Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). Under this MoU, the IWAI will actively promote cruise tourism in the region with the objective of generating employment, driving economic growth, and creating new avenues for leisure, pilgrim, and budget tourism through inland waterways.
President Raj Kumar Padha stressed the importance of holding such consultative meetings regularly to holistically address tourism related issues. The Minister appreciated the suggestion and extended an invitation to the CTTIK delegation for a follow up meeting at his office in the coming days.
Among others present on the occasion were Capt Anil Gour, Rajinder Sharma, and various dignitaries associated with the tourism sector.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
