Srinagar August 07: The Jammu and Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Association (JKHARA) jointly hosted an meeting with Restaurant Association Kashmir(RAK) President JKHARA Showkat Chowdary urged LG Administration to announce special packages for the travel and tour operators who are the main pillars of tourism promotion of any destination for upcoming winter season.
“All the associations associated with tourism industry in the Jammu and Kashmir state should work together for the betterment and upliftment of tourism sector and work jointly to chalk out new plans to be get discussed with state and central ministries”, Chowdhary said Speaking on the occasion, Rouf Punjabi, Former KCCI President And Advisor JKHARA said, “We have lost hopes of compensation from the admin but at this crucial stage we request them to stop implementing taxes on us in one way or another. We need time to stand up again in order to boost our economic situation”.”Apart from known tourist spots. We need to highlight our religious tourism outside the valley, that may include beautification of Shahr-e-khass markets. We can work shoulder to shoulder with the government in attracting tourists in large numbers” , he added Manzoor Pakhtoon, JKHARA General Secretary, Appreciated JKTDC for launching cruise kind of floating restaurant with modern technology. The govt should come forward with strategic ideas for boosting Tourism in the valley”
Nadima Nazir secretary JKHARA, also said that in order to promote tourism, all the stakeholders have to extend their contribution, both individually and collectively to take the tourism in Kashmir to next level, she said.
The tourism in Kashmir has huge potential to provide employment and livelihood to thousands of people, if it gets promoted to next level, she added. Sheikh Feroz, President RAK said, “Things are creating gap between the tourism sector and Government. While other states are enjoying ease up business schemes, valley is yet to implement the same. “The restaurants that had been established just a few months or a year or so before the pandemic hit the world are the worst sufferers. Most of these new ventures had been started by the youngsters to earn their bread and butter. Most of these restaurants have been completely closed as the owners could not sustain the losses of their businesses”, he added.
