SRINAGAR: Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Association (KHARA) has sought the up-gradation of existing infrastructure in the state to cater to the growing rush of the tourists.
KHARA was a part of travel trade body which interacted with Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Tourism Director Kashmir Talat Parvez here at SKICC on Thursday.
KHARA was represented by its President Showkat Chowdhary who while addressing the travel fraternity and senior officers of the tourism department urged the tourism minister to pay immediate attention for the upgradation of the existing infrastructure in the hospitality sector.
J&K state has been witnessing good rush of the tourists for the last couple of years which is a healthy sign. New hotels are coming up in the state especially in Kashmir which will take more couple of years. But before they come up, we have to accommodate the visitors in the existing infrastructure which needs to be given face lift, said Chowdhary.
Chowdhary, while welcoming the minister for taking over charge as a tourism minister, said the travel trade bodies in the Valley were making all out efforts to promote tourism and attract more tourists to state.
For last two years, we have put every effort to bring tourism back on it tract and with the help of tourism department and tourism ministry we have succeeded in reviving tourism in Kashmir. Now we need to put up a better accommodation for the tourists so that they can spread a good word in the own respective places, said Chowdhary.
KHARA also urged the new tourism minister to promote heritage sector in the state.
Our state has many things to offer for the tourists. Heritage of our state is also an important sector which needs to be paid special attention. It will attract us heritage lovers, said Chowhdary.
KHARA members also sought a separate meeting with the tourism minister to discuss all the issues which travel fraternity is confronting.
Earlier, in the beginning of his address Chowdhary on behalf of KHARA and Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) congratulated the Minister for assuming the charge of tourism and assured him all the support from travel fraternity.
We will cooperate with you to promote tourism. We are hopeful that under your guidance, tourism sector would be taken to new heights, said Chowdhary.
The minister assured the hoteliers that he would meet the travel trade bodies and discuses issues with them for redressal.
The Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Miir appealed the locals to help maintain peace so that tourism can be given chance to flourish.
We are making every effort to promote J&K as the best tourist destination not only in India but in the world. If we have peace here, we can be in a position to spread a good word and attract tourists. this will also help us lift travel advisories, said Ghulam Ahmad Mir.
Express sadness at the Pahalgam Hotel fire incident
Meanwhile KHARA has expressed shock over the unfortunate fire incident of Pahalgam Hotel at prime tourism destination Pahalgam.
This is a great loss to tourism sector. We are deeply saddened by this fire incident, said KHARA President Showkat Chowdhary.
Chowdhary has appealed the tourism minister to allow the hotelier to rebuild his hotel.
Tourism and other department should not put any hindrances for the hoteliers in rebuilding the hotel, said Chowdhary.
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