Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 30: Praytan Vikas Mandal (PVM) – an amalgam of 22 tourist trade organisations held meeting through video conferencing in which chairman of the organisation, Inderjeet Khajuria has expressed concern over the plight of tourist dependent stakeholders.
“As the nationwide lockdown has severely hit the traders, service providers and all others dependent upon tourism industry, causing a huge financial loss and leading to such an unprecedented situation from where the chance of recovery to its original position is very bleak,” said Khajuria while addressing the meeting.
President, Rajesh Gupta appreciated the Government for taking timely actions for preventing the spread of Coronavirus by clamping lockdown in advance and demanded a special package for tourism fraternity.
Kuldeep Wahi, former president said all the tourist trade units are completely closed and unlikely to do any business in future due to Corona pandemic and Government should come to their rescue in this critical juncture.
President of All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association, Pawan Gupta appealed for waive off electricity and water charges, municipal charges and give some financial support to hotel industry as a first-aid along with formulation of an effective and fruitful policy/package for sustenance of hotel industry.
President of Raghunath Bazar Businessmen Association, Surinder Gupta said that the condition of traders dealing in shawls, handicrafts, dry fruits had been suffering huge losses since extension of train service from Jammu to Katra, now the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic has made their condition from bad to worse and chance of revival of business is nowhere in sight.
Aashaq Hussain, president of United Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Government should announce an immediate package for hotels and restaurants on the same pattern as given by the various countries for their nationals.
Rajesh Dewan, Lower Hari Market Association’s president, said that they were heading towards huge losses because of perishing of dry fruits and zero business activity in near future.
Anchal Singh president of Taxi Union, ML Sharma chairman of Jammu Development council and Pritam Sharma also expressed their opinion during the meeting.
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