Kashmir's tourism sector facing registration hurdles, KCCI seeks CM's intervention

Srinagar, Jan 4: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has called upon the Chief Minister, J&K Omar Abdullah to address pressing challenges tourism stakeholders face regarding renewing tourism registration certificates.

The Chamber in a statement expressed serious concerns over the recent notification (No. Reg/1129/581/DTR dated 21-12-2024) issued by the Director of Tourism, Kashmir, urging that the process be streamlined to mitigate hardships for tourism and hospitality sectors.

"The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) had previously brought the issue to the attention of the Chief Minister during a meeting held on October 29 at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. At that time, the Chamber submitted a memorandum and later also sent a letter to the Chief Minister, detailing the challenges faced by tourism stakeholders. Although the authorities had assured the KCCI that they would work together to find a solution, the Chamber has expressed disappointment that no meaningful consultation took place before the latest notification was issued, leaving the concerns of stakeholders unaddressed, Secretary General KCCI Faiz Bakshi said in a statement.

Tourism stakeholders, including hoteliers, houseboats, guesthouse operators, restaurants, tour & travel sectors are grappling with an unnecessarily complex and time-consuming system for renewing their registration certificates. The process requires multiple clearances and NOCs from various departments, forcing stakeholders to endure endless office visits, extended waiting periods, and a growing list of formalities.

"The chamber is disappointed that the introduction of an online renewal system did not simplify the process as intended. Instead, stakeholders are still required to obtain NOCs from various departments, despite these departments having independent mechanism to seek compliance."

The Chamber had proposed delinking the renewal process from NOC requirements, drawing comparisons to efficient practices in departments such as Income Tax, GST, and Commercial Taxes, where inter-departmental clearances are not mandated. Adopting a similar approach in the tourism sector would greatly alleviate the burden on stakeholders and encourage compliance.

KCCI emphasises the difficulties faced by hotels and guest houses constructed decades ago under earlier regulatory frameworks but are being asked to comply with regulations enforced later on.

KCCI urges the government to suspend the notification until a workable solution is devised in consultation with stakeholders.

"Furthermore, in light of the significant decline in tourism arrivals in Kashmir since July 2024, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) urges the government to intensify its efforts to promote tourism. KCCI emphasised the urgent need to revitalise the sector through targeted marketing initiatives. By doubling down on meaningful promotional activities, the government can help to revitalise the industry, attract more visitors, and ultimately boost the local economy, which has been impacted by the recent downturn in tourism despite huge available inventory," the statement said.