241 Tourist Grievances Received This Year; ₹16.95 Lakh in Fines, ₹36.43 Lakh Refunded
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Oct 3: Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Enforcement has received 241 complaints from tourists between January 1 and October 1 this year, with the department maintaining that the number of grievances remains below one per cent of the overall tourist footfall in the Union Territory.
Of the total complaints received during the period, 140 have been disposed of, while 101 cases are currently pending for further action. The department has also imposed fines amounting to ₹16,95,700 on service providers found violating prescribed norms and facilitated refunds totalling ₹36,43,440 to tourists who reported financial or service-related grievances.
The figures come at a time when Jammu and Kashmir continues to witness a substantial flow of visitors. During the period under review, domestic tourist arrivals stood at 15,45,347, while 16,020 foreign tourists visited the Union Territory.
Tourism Enforcement authorities have also acknowledged the need to further strengthen hospitality standards and improve the overall visitor experience. Officials said greater interaction with tourists and tourism-related service providers is being undertaken to identify shortcomings and develop practical solutions.
Senior Superintendent Tourism Enforcement, SD Choudhary, said the department is focusing on direct engagement with stakeholders to understand the difficulties faced by tourists and address gaps in service delivery.
An outreach programme was recently organised to obtain feedback from tourists and service providers and to sensitise stakeholders about appropriate hospitality practices and the responsibilities expected from both visitors and service providers.
The initiative assumes significance as Jammu and Kashmir seeks to sustain the momentum in tourist arrivals while ensuring that the growing number of visitors receives quality services across accommodation, transport, travel and other tourism-related sectors.
Choudhary said the tourist footfall this year has remained encouraging despite challenges faced by the tourism sector at different points.
He said the department continues to take action on complaints received from tourists and seeks to resolve grievances at the earliest possible stage through the prescribed legal and enforcement mechanisms.
According to the department, the complaint figures remain relatively small when compared with the overall number of tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir. However, officials stressed that every complaint is being examined and appropriate action taken wherever violations are established.
The enforcement mechanism also includes facilitating refunds to tourists where service-related disputes or other grievances warrant such intervention, besides imposing penalties on erring service providers.
Officials said continued feedback from tourists would help the department identify recurring issues and formulate measures to improve service standards. Greater awareness among tourism stakeholders, coupled with effective enforcement, is expected to play an important role in maintaining confidence among visitors.
With more than 15.61 lakh domestic and foreign tourists recorded during the period, the department said maintaining high standards of hospitality and ensuring prompt redressal of complaints would remain important as Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector continues to expand.
