Srinagar: Kashmir Tourism Trade Bodies Joint Forum has expressed its concern over the deteriorating quality of the business of tour operators and allied entities in the wake of the lingering pandemic and the prevailing business environment.
Ziraat Times here reproduces extracts from the statement issued to the media by the forum:
Kashmir Tour Operators have been the front runners of promotion of Tourism Destinations of J&K and Ladakh since 4 decades and have attained the important position in the eyes of the Government as far as the policy-making decisions were concerned. Despite the fact that this sector has been considered as a white-colored job, but we have been tirelessly working in putting the Kashmir in the front page of tourism destinations world wide. However, we have been suffering for the past 2 years. Despite the fact that Tour Operators are also referred as DMCs in the present days, have not much investment in our business operations, but we have hugely invested in terms of our vast proficiencies & decisive information so that tourists were guided properly and we acted as the best advisors & consultants since last 4-5 decade.
Although Tour Operators like other business entities of Tourism Industry suffered badly since 1990 and started doing business in piece-meals since 1996 till 2016, unfortunately, from 2016 onwards we have been in doldrums due to lack of support both within and outside the Industry. The Government of J&K has never considered Tour Operator as an important entity and despite many representations, we were never declared as an Industrial Unit. No Financial Benefits or Packages have been extended to us and we have been meted out with a step-motherly treatment.
However, since last 2 years we have been almost without business, primarily due to Covid-19 Pandemic and more than those difficulties faced by us from the operational business environment. We expect more handholding by our business partners in these difficult circumstances.
In the larger interest of the Tour Operators Society, we, hereby, humbly appeal our business partners, including our hotelier brethren, to kindly extend their support to the Tour Operators of Kashmir so that they too earn their livelihood & support their families.
For & On Behalf of Kashmir Tourism Trade Bodies Joint Forum
- Travel Agents Society of Kashmir
- Travel Agents Association of Kashmir
- Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Alliance
- J&K Pilgrim & Leisure Tour Operators Forum Tourist Trade Interest Guild
- Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kmr. Domestic Tour Operators Association of
- Kashmir Association of Kashmir Tour Operators
- Urban Travel Agents Association
- Travel Agents Federation of Kashmir
- Travel Agents Association of India (J&K Chapter) Indian Association of Tour Operators (JKC)
- Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India
