Srinagar, Sep 30: A memorandum was submitted today by Kashmir Hotel and Restaurants Association (KHARA) and Kashmir Hotel and Restaurants Owners Federation (KHAROF) to the Union Minister of Tourism G Kishen Reddy during a meeting with the representatives of tourist trade today here.
Ziraat Times here re-produces the memorandum points as shared by the visiting team:
(A) Tourism in general and hospitality sector in particular has been the worst hit since decades.This despite being one of the oldest and popular tourist destinations once attracting tourists from world over for its high altitude mountains, sky rocketing Himalayan peaks, thousands of kilometres of alpine forests , incomparable landscape, idyllic valleys, gushing streams, serene lakes,wetlands of international repute, pilgrim circuits and easy connectivity.
(B)Kashmir has abundant tourist accommodation by way of hotels, resorts, lodges, guest houses,huts,homestay etc.And also a wide range of restaurants/ Fast food joints of International chains offering unlimited variety of cuisine . As per Srinagar Metropolitan Region Master Plan -2035 Kashmir has sufficient accommodation in hospitality sector for hosting more than 30 lac tourists on year on basis.But , our tourist arrival numbers have never passed 7-8 lacs at best of times in recent years.Lately, it even witnessed its nadir.
(C) As per a joint report (SAMTEK REPORT) of Govt of India & the State Government the tourism sector in Jammu & Kashmir has the potential of being the largest employer of trained, skilled and semi-skilled and trained persons thereby help address the growing unemployment problem.This is achievable only if tourism flourishes and hospitality sector is allowed to grow in unhindered manner.
(D) Sadly the hotel Industy is faced with insurmountable problems hugeLy compounded by COVID -1 , 2 & 3 as discussed below . All this have brought this sector on the verge of disaster. More-so, now and then new regulations/ guidelines are issued which are not only difficult but impossible to adhere to and , therefore, need to be critically reviewed for the survival of this sector:
(1) TOURISM AS AN INDUSTRY :Though the sector was accorded the status of Industry way back in 1995 but hardly any incentive available to Small Scale Industry were extended to it.The Scheme for MSME is hard to be complied with by hospitality sector given its requirements. Moreover, the recently implemented Industrial Policy 2021-35 applies to new units leaving the huge existing infrastructure high and dry. Hotel industry needs a 2004 Vajpayee Type Relief / financial package to save the existing hospitality infrastructure.
(2)POWER TARIFF: The Power tariff applicable to Industry be extended to this sector. This was done during the Governors Rule but discontinued after a year.Moreover, the hotels be charged on the basis of actual consumption instead of the DEMAND + CONSUMPTION being done at present.
(3) ) WATER CHARGES: Since, owing to the situation obtained for a long time drastically bring down the tourist footfall the water charges be rationalised/waived off till revival of tourism .
(4)COMMON STP’S:The Government issued orders for setting up of common STP’S in areas not already connected.The work on them be completed so as to enable hotels & restaurants to get connected. The areas that need to be immediately connected are Lal Chowk/ Budshah Chowk and adjacent areas, Rajbagh and adjacent areas, Sonwar/ Indra Nagar/ Shivpora/ Badami Bagh Cantonment area,Shalimar and adjacent areas etc.This is critical for saving our waterbodies/rivers/Jhelum from pollution.
(5) TOURISM REGISTRATION /RENEWAL : The tourism registration licences are renewed for a shorter period ( 1,2,3 years).The Union Territory Government May please consider the renewal for at least for 5 years as was done earlier
(6) EXORBITANT SANITATION CHARGES:The Srinagar Municipal Corporation in its wisdom all of a sudden increased the Sanitation Fee by three times of the Fee previously charged.And this too when hotels were closed post August 2019 followed by COVID 19.Our Associations have taken up these issues with the Hon’ble Advisor , Commissioner SMC and other officials but without any result. The response that SMC needs money does not mean the sector worst affected by successive events will be targeted for generating resources.The SMC sanitation and other taxes need to be rationalised.
(7) FIRE CLEARANCE: Now & then new regulations are promulgated which are not A large number of hotels mainly the ones constructed decades ago in accordance with the requirements of the time are being asked for upgrading their infrastructure like constructing an additional staircase, water storage of thousands of litres ,Parking,lawns etc. These requirements are not possible to be adhered to and the same are requested to be reviewed.
(8)POLLUTION CONTROL COMMITTEE :The Pollution Control Committee be advised to grant NOC required for registration/ renewal of Tourism Registration in a time bound manner. The Committee complains of inadequacy of personal which needs to be looked into.
(9)PERMISSION FOR REPAIRS/ RENOVATION/RECONSTRUCTION/ UPGRADATION IN TOURIST AREAS :There is a blanket ban on undertaking repairs, renovation , reconstruction in some tourist areas viz Boulevard, Pahalgham, Gulmarg, Sonamarg etc which needs to be reviewed.It is heartening to know that the Hon’ble High Court very recently allowed LAWDA to grant such permissions. The Government may kindly approach the Hon’ble High Court for similar relief at other tourist destinations.
(10)GROUNDWATER CHARGES :The PHE – Ground Water Division has started issuing bills to hotels for using ground water.This is a bit too much considering Jammu & Kashmir having abundant water resources.And why every tax has to be levied on the sick and suffering hospitality sector.This decision needs to be reviewed and plans to tax the hospitality industry abandoned .
(11)PROPERTY TAX : There is also a proposal to impose property tax on hotels etc.The Hon’ble Lt.Governor was kind enough to dispel any such move by the Government. However, hotels in Cantonment Area have been served with property tax notices which go against the assurances of Hon’ble Lt, Governor.The matter needs to be looked into.
(12) LOAN MATTERS :Many hotels have been constructed with loans obtained from Banks but for circumstances beyond their control resulted in a significant fall in tourist footfall.Consequently,these investor-borrowers have not been able to repay their loan resulting in many accounts having gone bad.These loans need to be restructured for a longer period and a infusion of funds by Government in the shape of added interest subventions.Such a step will help these borrowers in regularising the accounts.
(13) UNPAID COVID QUARANTINE BILLS : The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir hired many hotels for the purpose of accommodating Doctors , para-Medical Staff and travellers for Quarantine during COVID -19 from March 2019. It is , however, being brought to your notice that huge amount of payments have still not been released to those hotels ,and , that too during the difficult times when they needed it the most.Necessary orders may kindly be issued for clearing of the dues.
(14) LAND LEASE:The Government is requested to come to the rescue of the lease holders whose lease has not been renewed.The Government can formulate a policy and present that to the Hon’ble High Court for consideration.The lease holders have invested hundreds of crores for construction of hotels on these lands.The example of Union/Delhi Government may be relevant who formulated and submitted a policy for regularisation of tens of thousands of houses and unauthorised colonies.
It would be worthwhile to mention that if immediate steps are not taken for the resolution of issues faced by hotel and restaurant sector it will have disastrous consequences not only for a large section associated with tourism but also for a very large number of people directly or indirectly dependant on tourism.
