Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association has expressed strong resentment against the attitude of the JKUT Administration and alleged that Tourism/Hotel Industry has been badly suffered in Jammu region.
An emergency meeting of the AJHLA was held here today under the chairmanship of Inderjeet Khajuria, wherein the members expressed serious concern over the poor condition of Jammu people particularly those connected with tourism/hotel industry. They alleged that UT administration has done nothing to support this industry.
While speaking during the meeting Khajuria stated that Hotel Industry in Jammu region is passing through its worst phase of life after-effect of COVID-19 pandemic . Tourism sector has been pushed to innumerable hardships rather than any relief from the Government side and the condition of stakeholders has turned from bad to worse because of zero business activity.
Pawan Gupta, president of the Association, expressed disappointment on ignoring the Tourism sector particularly the hotel industry from the purview of any relief package from the government even after repeated requests for the same to the government, umpteen times. The condition of smokeless hotel industry, already on the ventilator due to extension of train service from Jammu to Katra, has worsened due to engulfing effect of COVID pandemic .
The tourism fraternity such as hotels, lodges, dhabas, travel agents, tour operators, traders dealing in shawls and handicrafts, dry fruits, taxis, autos, transporters etc. has been hit badly and passing through a very crucial phase of life because of almost nil business due to massive fall in the number of pilgrims /tourists from outside J&K. There are few tourists visiting Jammu city despite the tall claim of administration that a record number of tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir currently.
It is worthwhile to mention here that not even 5% of the total pilgrims/tourists visiting Katra and Kashmir are being diverted towards Jammu city which has now become one of the sight-seeing spots rather than a broad base camp for Katra and Kashmir. Even after the abrogation of Article 370, all the hopes of Tourism sector of Jammu that it would be developed as an independent tourist destination instead of transit camp, have dashed to ground because of continuance of step motherly treatment of administration to this already suffering region. The stopping of century old practice of Durbar move has further affected the tourism sector to a large extent in Jammu.
The Association appealed to the J&K administration to formulate a new policy of tourism development in and around Jammu city which should help in saving Jammu tourism stake holders who otherwise are closing their hotel/ tourism dependent trade due to poor business
Other office bearers- M L Sharma, Anil Khajuria, Pritam Sharma, HS Manhas, Baldev Raj, Sunil Suri, Swarn Singh, Sankul Gupta, Manpreet Singh, Nishant Gupta and Varun Gupta were also present.
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