Firdous Qadri
Srinagar, Jan 23: Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club (JKHC) on Saturday met the visiting Parliamentary delegation here at summer-capital Srinagar besides at world famous ski-resort Gulmarg, to discuss various issues pertaining to Hospitality and Tourism sectors.
A statement received here by Kashmir Glory from Hoteliers Club reads that the issue of frequent flight cancellation at Srinagar Airport due to low visibility and bad weather was taken up with the delegation of Parliamentary Standing Committee.
During the interaction, the Club as maintained in the statement, informed the visiting delegation that Kashmir tourism has been suffering majorly due to flight cancellation coupled with frequent Srinagar-Jammu highway closures’ on account of bad weather and snowfall.
The JKHC urged the Parliamentary Committee that the Government of India may be impressed upon improving landing facilities at Srinagar airport so that planes can land and take off at minimum visibility, the statement said.
The JKHC interacted with the Parliamentary delegation in Srinagar and also at Gulmarg to put forth their issues confronting the hospitality sector, the statement reads.
The Hoteliers Club, as per the statement, also invited the attention of the delegation to the unusual hike in the airfare during peak season and during Srinagar-Jammu road closure and sought a regulation of the airfare on Srinagar route.
Citing the economic shutdown in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370 followed by COVID Lockdown, the Hoteliers Club, as per the statement, informed the visiting delegation that the hospitality sector suffered colossal losses for over a year now which needs to be compensated.
The Club besides immediate interest free cash assistance to the hospitality sector for its survival has even sought release of revival plans to boost the sector.
The Hoteliers Club on the occasion raised concern over the ban on repairs and upgradation of the hotels at Boulevard in Srinagar besides at Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg which it said has damaged these properties.
“Government should allow repairs of the existing hotels at these locations or else the properties will be ruined and which will have an impact on the tourism industry,” underscored Tariq Ghani during the interaction meeting, as per the statement.
The Hoteliers Club has also sought extension of the land leases to the hotels at tourist resorts without delay.
“Besides, the Government of India should start extensive Kashmir promotion plans at national and international level”, the Club members, as per the statement said.
The JKHC was represented by its Secretary General Tariq Rashid Ghani during both the meetings.
