Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: Tourism players in the Kashmir valley have demanded improvement in the tourism infrastructure, more lavatories, better accommodation facilities, uninterrupted power supply, cooking gas availability and better hospitality so that tourists continue to come in good numbers to Kashmir.
Sharing their views with Excelsior the tourism players allege that the Valley is lagging behind in providing the basic facilities to the tourists. They said the Government should take steps to develop the infrastructure as it is a must for State economy.
“We are lagging behind in providing basic facilities to the tourists who visit Kashmir. Last year 1.2 million tourists visited Valley but when it comes to provide better infrastructure in form of public lavatories in cities, towns and rural areas we are far far away from the other tourist places,” said Rauf Tramboo, President, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK).
Mohammad Yasin Khan, Chairman, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) while expressing dismay over the lack of accommodation for tourists in the hotels said that sometimes tourists have to face tough times due to lack of accommodation.
“Government should think seriously about these matters if we want to keep pace with the arrival of more and more tourists to Kashmir valley. Government should develop the infrastructure at a fast pace so that we can accommodate more and more tourists at this place,” said Khan.
Faiz Bakshi, President Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF), opines that there is negligible accommodation for the high-end tourists who visit Kashmir or intend to visit Kashmir. He pitches for setting up more accommodation for the high end tourists at different places of tourist importance in Kashmir.
“Majority of tourists who visit here mainly belong to low economy class. Not more than five percent high-end tourists visit Kashmir. We need basic infrastructure like high class hotels, good roads, better vehicles, regular electricity to attract such tourists but all these things are missing in Kashmir,” said Faiz.
The houseboat owners are also of the view that despite having super deluxe houseboats they are unable to attract high end tourists because of lack of other facilities.
“We have more than 100 super deluxe houseboats in Kashmir in which high end tourists love to stay given their unique charm and attraction. But these are not enough to accommodate majority of them. Absence of basic facilities like electricity always plays a spoil sport,” said Mohammad Azim Tuman, Chairman Houseboat Owners Association (HBOA).
Showkat Chowdhary, President, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) also showed dissatisfaction over tourism infrastructure in the State and said if infrastructure is upgraded at the new tourist spots, the visitors would prolong their stay in the Valley.
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