Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 6: Secretary of Tourism, Syed Abid Rasheed, today vowed action against overcharging and counterfeit sales by any private tourism player and directed the officials of the concerned wing to meticulously document such cases, lodge FIRs, and make them publicly known, emphasizing the importance of stringent measures against those found guilty.
Abid spearheaded the inaugural stakeholder consultation meeting here to address various pressing issues faced by the tourism sector in Kashmir.
The meeting witnessed active deliberations on issues such as overcharging tourists and the sale of counterfeit Kashmiri products masquerading as authentic artefacts.
He emphasized that enforcement efforts would be significantly intensified to prevent the exploitation of visitors, reiterating that nobody would be allowed to deceive tourists.
One of the significant concerns raised during the meeting pertained to the cancellation of Go Air tickets. Abid assured attendees that utmost efforts would be made to prevent tourists from suffering due to flight ticket cancellations.
The consultation meeting witnessed active participation from a wide range of stakeholders, including shikara wallas, hoteliers, tour and travel operators, and other key players in the tourism industry.
The meeting was aimed to serve as a platform for open discussions, allowing stakeholders to voice their concerns and contribute to the formulation of effective solutions.
Talking to the media, the Secretary highlighted the dynamic nature of the tourism sector and the need for real-time responsiveness.
He announced that such stakeholder consultation meetings would be held on the first Saturday of every month, both in Jammu as well as in Kashmir. “This proactive approach aims to ensure continuous dialogue and timely resolution of emerging issues within the tourism industry.”
“With the regular stakeholder meetings, it is expected that the Tourism Department will foster collaborative efforts and implement robust measures to uphold the region’s reputation as a premier tourist destination,” one of the stakeholders said.
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