Kashmir tourism trade bodies joint forum express concern over new clause to the J&K Tourism Trade Act

SRINGAR: An emergent meeting of the Heads of Associations & the prominent Inbound & Adventure Tour Operators was called today by Travel Agents Society of Kashmir [TASK] at a local Hotel to discuss the circular issued by Director Tourism Kashmir for registering as ATO’s.
The issue was discussed by TASK, HBOA, JKTA, J&K PILTOF, TTIG, AKTO, DTOAK, UTAA, NTTA, State Chapters of TAAI, IATO AND ADTOI. Among the leading Travel & Tourism Bodies of Kashmir the following eminent Tour Operators were taken on board as the Advisors \ Consultants are Sheikh Bashir Ahmed (Sea N Sky Travels), Abdul Rashid Gosani (Mughal Holidays), Ghulam Rasool Siah (Prince Tour), besides visible Tourism Players who have been carrying the legacy of promoting Kashmir & Ladakh Tourism, globally as Adventure and Leisure destination for over 60 year globally. All the Operators present have contributed by discovering some of the lesser known Trekking Destinations of the valley & Ladakh and have also introduced some of the new Adventure activities to Kashmir. These operators have been working for promotion of Tourism in Kashmir event before formation of Tourism Trade IN Act 1978.
The meeting was conducted to discuss the serious matter of concern which is incorporation of new clause to the J&K Tourism Trade Act, where in a reputed and legend Tour Operators have to re-register as Adventure Tour Operators. The Tour Operators took this as a harsh step taken by Deptt of Tourism and a matter of great concern & prerequisite to be discussed with the authorities’ in-order to offer ease of doing business to the stakeholders and not confining the activity to a specific set of operators, who may have little practical knowledge about the adventure segment of tourism, but may be far from the reality of Promoting the Adventure business globally.
The Advisors said in a statement among the leading Travel & Tourism Bodies of Kashmir the following eminent Tour Operators were taken on board as the Advisors \ Consultants are Sheikh Bashir Ahmed (Sea N Sky Travels), Abdul Rashid Gosani (Mughal Holidays), Ghulam Rasool Siah (Prince Tour), Besides the advisors, the meeting was chaired by President TASK, Mir Anwar (Mazda Travels), & attended by Nasir Shah (CNE luxury Holidays), Mohd Ibrahim Siah (Shahnama Tours), Mohd Sidiq Kulu (Viva Destinations), Abdul Hamid Wangnoo (Kashmir Friends Travels), Haji Manzoor Wangnoo, (Kashmir Mahal) Haji Abdul Khaliq Wangnoo (Hill Tours) Mohd Akram Siah (Meena Travels), Manzoor Ahmed Pakhtoon (Silk Route Holidays), Shamim A. Shah (Shah Travels), Zahoor A. Qari (Air Links Travels), Showkat Pakhtoon (Elizabeth Tours & Travels), Nazir A. Mir (Shree Mazda Travels) Noor N. Shangloo (Shangloo Travels) Mukhtar Jhan (Jaan Tours & Travels), Mushtaq A. Bala (Debonair Tours & Travels, Ather Yameen (Earth Explorers). Mohammad Shafi Wangnoo (Kashmir Vision Tours) Besides young Turks Sameer Baktoo (India Travel Connection), Irfan A. Gosani (Johanssen Travel Agency) & M. Maqbool Pakhtoon (Royal India Expeditions). The Advisors desired to have a detailed meeting with Secretary Tourism \ Director Tourism with a request to apprise them about the said issue and giveaway such exercise, failing which the prominent operators will have no choice to approach the Court of Law for relief to the already fragile Tour Operators \ Travel agents of Kashmir who are suffering now since 3 decades.

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