Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: A delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) led by its President Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad met Chief Minister and submitted a detailed memorandum regarding protection and promotion of tourism.
While speaking, Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad said that the existing tourist destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Srinagar, Sonamarg have grown haphazardly in an unplanned manner and further expansion can lead to disasters of un-imaginable magnitude like September 2014 floods. Any further expansion should be undertaken only after Environment Impact Assessment, he added.
“Jammu and Kashmir as a pilgrim and adventure tourism destination needs to be promoted through a consistent High Voltage Promotional Campaign. There is also need for 4 and 5-Star hotel accommodation at some existing and new destinations”, he stated.
Ahmad further disclosed that the tourism has been declared as an industry in the year 1995 but benefits are not available to Industry (MSME). He prayed that the anomaly be kindly removed. National Highway being unreliable, the Mughal Road should be made operational, he added.
He demanded uninterrupted power supply for tourist destinations, hospitality sector viz hotels and houseboats, travel and tour operators, transporters and adventure agents be provided soft loans, State entrepreneurs be provided land at new destinations for developing new hotels, resorts, eco-friendly hotels, theme parks, camping sites for/and adventure activities, amendment in setting up of common sewerage plants by State Pollution Control Board, renewal of legally leased land of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, etc on payment of reasonable amount.
He added that Department of Tourism should be made cadre based with employment to trained and qualified professionals, extension and upgradation of Institute of Hotel Management and Catering, Tourism Department should put all the details relating to tourist destinations, promotional activities, services and rates on its website, tourist destinations should be made tourist-friendly and growing complaints of harassment faced by tourists at Gulmarg, Sonamarg and other destinations need to be tackled at war footing.
Ahmad stated that there is an urgent need to have a long term and short term policy on tourism for the State otherwise this sector faces the imminent danger of collapse.
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