Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 11: A delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held a detailed interaction with Principal Secretary Tourism Department Sandeep K Nayak and discussed various issues pertaining to the tourism sector.
The KCCI delegation which was led by president Mushtaq Ahmad Wani pressed for holding of week-long tourism promotion events in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra wherefrom a major chunk of domestic tourists visit Kashmir.
“The KCCI also raised the issue of escalation of airfares during the tourist season and sought government intervention in this regard. The KCCI was of the opinion that this intervention was necessitated in view of reports that a particular section of high end tour operators and agents pool resources and block tickets en masse,” said a statement issued by the Chamber.
“During the season, these tickets are sold at exorbitant prices resulting in a financial bonanza. This practice, apart from adversely affecting the tourism sector, also makes traveling by air prohibitive for the general public,” the KCCI told the Principal Secretary.
In this regard, the Chamber suggested that the Government itself should block a particular number of seats so that the same could be released during the season, read the statement. “This intervention would go a long way in ensuring that the airfares are kept under control,” it said.
The Chamber said Sandeep K Nayak assured the KCCI that the issue of night flights was being seriously pursued by the State Government. “The other issues were well received and further necessary action assured in this regard,” the KCCI added.
Others issues discussed in the interaction were issuance of order regarding exemption of Service Tax on lodging, operation of night flights, formulation of clear policy on chartered flights, maximum capitalization from schemes for the tourism sector announced in the Union Budget 2016, refurbishment of existing tourism infrastructure under the PM’s package, operation of Special Holiday Trains, uninterrupted Power Supply at places of tourist interest, allowance for tourist vehicles to travel on National Highway during closure on account of durbar move and the tourism sector be treated at par with the industrial sector with regard to the power tariff and other incentives.
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