DH NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, Feb 7
The All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association, under the leadership of its President, Shri Pawan Gupta, held a crucial meeting with the Hon’ble Chief Minister of J&K UT, Shri Omar Abdullah, at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu. The discussion centered on the growing challenges faced by tourism stakeholders, particularly budget hoteliers, who are struggling to sustain their businesses amid the evolving travel landscape.
Gupta highlighted the adverse impact of the railway extension from Jammu to Katra, which had already weakened the hospitality sector in Jammu. With the impending train connectivity to Kashmir, the situation is expected to further deteriorate, directly affecting the region’s economy. He stressed the urgent need to promote Jammu as an independent tourist destination, given its abundant natural beauty and numerous picnic spots.
During the meeting, Gupta emphasized the completion of key pending projects that could transform Jammu’s tourism appeal. He urged for the swift execution of mega projects such as the Mubarak Mandi Complex restoration, the artificial lake project, and the beautification of the Tawi River banks on the lines of Sabarmati. He also called for the early development of the historic Ambaran Buddhist site and Jio Pota Ghat in Akhnoor, alongside enhancing Raghunath Temple’s grandeur in the style of the Golden Temple.
Furthermore, Gupta underscored the necessity of addressing industry-specific concerns of budget hoteliers. He pressed for streamlining the registration and renewal process for hotels, simplifying the procedure for obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Fire and Emergency Department, and ensuring better connectivity of Vaishno Devi pilgrims with Jammu City to boost local tourism.
The Chief Minister patiently heard the grievances of the delegation and assured that appropriate steps would be taken for their redressal. His commitment to addressing the pressing issues of the hospitality sector was welcomed by the stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by several office bearers of the association, including Anil Khajuria, Pritam Sharma, H.S. Manhas, Baldev Raj, Swarn Singh, and Varun Gupta, who reiterated their demand for concrete measures to revive and strengthen Jammu’s tourism industry.
