Delays in license renewals and exorbitant tariffs among key concerns discussed; KCCI calls for implementation of ‘ease of doing business’ policy
SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) office bearers’ team led by President Javid Ahmad Tenga on Friday met the Director Tourism Kashmir, Raja Yaqoob Farooq. The KCCI Senior Vice President, Ashaq Hussain Shangloo and Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi were present at the meeting. Senior officers of the Department of Tourism were also present in the meeting.
The KCCI team discussed various issues faced by the hospitality sector, Hotels, restaurants, travel trade, etc in running their businesses smoothly, the KCCI said in a press release issued here.
The KCCI raised the unresolved issue of renewal of registration licenses of hotels, guest houses, lodges, resorts, houseboats, restaurants etc. “The Director was apprised of the difficulties faced by the tourism stakeholders in general and the hospitality sector in particular in getting their registration certificates renewed,” the Chamber said, adding that it expressed deep concern over the delay of months and years instead of days because of the requirement of obtaining NOCs from various Departments.
The KCCI President raised the matter of notices issued by the Department of Tourism to a couple of hotels which the KCCI President termed as unfortunate in view of these hotels having applied for renewal of licenses but the Department of Tourism not having done the same on the ground of non-submission of 1 or 2 NOCs. “They along with other stakeholders have applied for the same but the concerned Departments take months and years to issue NOCs. The notices issued to these hotels need to be withdrawn,” Tenga said.
Javid reminded the Director Tourism about the Prime Minister’s ambitious policy of “Ease of Doing Business” which seems to have taken a backseat as for as the renewal of tourism registration licenses are concerned. He added that KCCI had taken up the matter with Lt. Governor, Chief Secretary and other concerned officials also, and will pursue it further.
The KCCI President commended the Director and other officials for bringing sanity to Gulmarg by taking revolutionary measures resulting in transforming Gulmarg into a popular tourist destination but had gained notoriety for harassment and mistreatment of tourists. The tourists are expressing much relief at the steps taken at Gulmarg which needed to be followed at other tourist destinations as well.
The Director Tourism sought KCCI’s support in regulating services by stakeholders, the statement said, adding,.”He complained about the exorbitant tariff charged by some sections of the hospitality sector and other stakeholders.”
The President KCCI suggested some measures including involving hotel associations which would help in overcoming the problem.