Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 19: Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) today pitched for the framing and subsequent implementation of long term tourism policy while demanding that the hotel sector should be declared as an industry with all the benefits.
Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, Mohammad Showkat Chowdhary, President KHARA said that the tourism policy should be framed for the next 15 years. He said the need of the tourism policy has increased due to the huge inflow of tourists to Kashmir during this year.
“After having seen and experiencing the tremendous tourist flow in ongoing season, it has become important and necessary to request the State Government to formulate tourism policy for the next 15 years so that tourism policy industry moves towards a prosperous future. The inflow of tourists is expected to increase 80-90 percent in the coming years and as such the tourism policy should be put in place at the earliest,” said Showkat.
He said that Jammu and Kashmir should be positioned as a leading global tourism destination by 2020, adding this is possible only with careful planning and infrastructure development. He said the weaknesses and loopholes that afflict the functioning of the tourism activities should be removed.
Showkat said that activities like para-gliding, trekking, water sports, mountain biking, white water rafting and rock climbing should be developed for luring more tourists. He said new tourist destinations should be explored and developed with the basic amenities like roads, electricity and sewerage system.
“The wetlands should be developed so that nature lovers especially bird watchers come here. Local youth need to be trained in adventure tourism so that they benefit through employment. Craft fairs, exhibitions, apple and orchard festivals can be held annually with the involvement of horticulture department and hotel associations. Night activities like light and sound programmes, musical melas and food fairs should be held,” said Showkat.
Showkat demanded 30 percent subsidy on total cost of renovation as well as upgradation of existing projects along with uninterrupted water and power supply on low tariff. He said the state government should come out with a blue print of the tourism policy. He added that the existing master plan should be reviewed and put on the website so that suggestions are invited from the stake holders.
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