To meet stakeholders and understand local requirements, a Parliamentary Standing Committee is visiting Kashmir later this week leaving some tourism related groups livid on ‘ignorance’ of the region.
The Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture will undertake a study visit to Srinagar and Gulmarg from 21st to 23rd January, 2021 to review the functioning of concerned sectors.
The committee’s decision to visit Kashmir alone has disappointed stakeholders in Jammu.
Interestingly enough, only two officials of Jammu division have been asked to attend the meetings of the visiting delegation to Kashmir along with all the requisite documents/information. These are Executive Director, Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society (MMJHS) and Director Tourism Jammu.
Other officials who will be attending the meetings as per schedule are Managing Director, J&K Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC); Managing Director, J&K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC); Director Tourism Kashmir; Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums; Director, Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC); CEO Tourism Development Authority, Gulmarg/Pahalgam/Sonamarg/Yousmarg; Principal, Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Srinagar; Principal, Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) Gulmarg; Director Airport Authority Srinagar; and Secretary, Royal Spring Golf Course.
The sources tell that on the first day of the visit, that is 21st January, the Parliamentary Panel has a meeting scheduled with stakeholders on leading aspects of road sector, and travel and hospitality sector, in addition to a meeting with officials of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and J&K UT Government on ‘Role of highways in nation building’ with reference to the status of national highways/state highways in J&K.
Later in the day, the panel will meet the officials of Ministries of Culture and Tourism, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and J&K UT Government on ‘Promotion and preservation of archaeological sites and artifacts in J&K.’
On the second day, that is 22nd January, the panel will take stock of the safety and connectivity aspects in the civil aviation, railways, road transport and highways, and tourism sectors in a meeting with the respective officials.
Further, to make on-the-spot assessment of tourism facilities/amenities, the panel will travel to Gulmarg on the third and last day of its visit, that is 23rd January.
It will be followed by a meeting with the officials of Ministry of Tourism, J&K UT Government, J&K Police, IHM Srinagar, IISM Gulmarg, and various stakeholders of tourism sector on the topics ‘Potential of tourist spots in the country – Connectivity and Outreach; Adventure tourism and hospitality; and Tourism police.
Also: Read my article at The News Now
Parl panel visiting Kashmir this week; Jammu ignored?
Published in The News Now on 18th January, 2021
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