Provide industrial benefits to tourism sector: Babar Chowdhary

Srinagar, Jan 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Association (JKHARA) pushed for sweeping reforms to revitalise the region’s tourism sector during a crucial meeting with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today.

Led by JKHARA President Babar Chowdhary, the delegation called for reinstating industrial status for tourism businesses to enable subsidized power tariffs. “Tourism is the backbone of J&K’s economy,” said Chowdhary, who also advocated reviving the 2018-19 financial benefits scheme.

The delegation proposed extending hotel and restaurant lease periods and establishing modern tent accommodations to capitalize on increased tourism expected from new train services. Chowdhary also highlighted the need for additional public washrooms at tourist destinations.

Junior Vice President Sheikh Imran proposed extending registration certificate validity to 10 years, similar to passports and driving licenses. He called for eliminating annual requirements for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and judicial magistrate affidavits, describing these as “cumbersome procedures” that strain business owners.

Secretary General Ayesha Saleem focused on budget tourism, advocating for renovation of older hotels in Srinagar’s Civil Lines and Downtown areas, while Joint Secretary Mohammad Shafi Beigh challenged recent increases in municipal sanitation fees.

Chief Secretary Dulloo promised to evaluate the proposed reforms and address the industry’s concerns. The meeting, held at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, comes as the region’s tourism sector seeks to strengthen its position during the winter season.

The delegation included Senior Vice President Dr. Lateef Ahmad Lone, who emphasized streamlining registration renewals for established properties based on previous regulations. The group pushed for clearer processes in obtaining NOCs from various departments, including LCMA and Tourism.