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Last-minute OTM pullout leaves Kashmir travel industry fuming

The stakeholders expressed collective frustration over the department’s handling of this prestigious event, scheduled for January 30 to February 1
11:09 PM Jan 28, 2025 IST | GK NEWS SERVICE
last minute otm pullout leaves kashmir travel industry fuming
Last-minute OTM pullout leaves Kashmir travel industry fuming___Representational image
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Srinagar, Jan 28: In a major setback to Kashmir’s tourism promotion efforts, the Department of Tourism’s sudden withdrawal from the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) in Mumbai has sparked outrage among industry stakeholders. The controversial decision, announced at the eleventh hour, has left numerous travel operators stranded in Mumbai after they had already made significant investments in travel and promotional materials.

According to the statement, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) convened an emergency meeting with representatives from 20 leading hotel, houseboat, and tour organisations to address the crisis. The stakeholders expressed collective frustration over the department’s handling of this prestigious event, scheduled for January 30 to February 1.

“The tourism department had initially allocated spaces and collected participation fees of Rs 10,000 from each participant. However, upon arriving in Mumbai, the delegates were informed that their participation had been cancelled, leaving them in a financially precarious position,” KCCI said in a statement.

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All heads of travel and tour organisations unanimously declared they would seriously reconsider attending any future events or functions organised by the Tourism Department. This decision reflects the deep-seated frustration within the industry over the department’s handling of promotional activities.

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Industry representatives at the KCCI meeting emphasised that this mismanagement not only undermines local businesses but also jeopardizes Kashmir’s position as a premier tourist destination. They noted that the department’s vacant space at one of India’s largest tourism fairs would send a negative message about the region’s tourism sector.

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“The stakeholders voiced serious concerns about the tourism department’s persistent disregard for industry participation in crucial trade fairs and the cumbersome registration processes requiring multiple NOCs. They particularly criticised the lack of experienced personnel in the tourism department’s management.”

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The industry bodies have demanded the constitution of a Tourism Board to oversee the department’s operations, replacing the current system they claim is run by inexperienced personnel. They have also appealed to the Chief Minister to order a high-level inquiry into the incident.

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The meeting was attended by representatives from major tourism associations including TASK, KHAROA, UTTA, JKHARA, TAFOK, AKTO, and other prominent industry bodies, all of whom supported the decision to reevaluate their future participation in departmental events.

The participants appealed to the Chief Minister to order a high-level enquiry into this episode which is bound to send negative signals about Kashmir Tourism.