PHDCCI Jammu presents recommendations to Secretary Tourism to boost Jammu tourism

Jammu, June 7: Rahul Sahai, Chair of PHDCCI Jammu Chapter, met with Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Secretary of Tourism for the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, in Jammu today.

During the meeting, Rahul Sahai congratulated Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah for successfully promoting Jammu and Kashmir’s rich tourist destinations to the world, including G20 delegates. He also commended the first-time showcasing of Jammu’s tourist destinations. Rahul Sahai provided an overview of the vision and operations of the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, a spokesperson of the PHD Chamber told Ziraat Times.

Rahul Sahai presented several suggestions, recommendations, and issues related to the tourism sector in Jammu. He proposed showcasing Jammu’s tourist destinations in Katra town by continuously playing videos in Katra markets, prominent chowks, and along the tracks. He also suggested the creation of a museum in Katra to display Jammu’s destinations, allowing tourists to discover and visit other places.

Furthermore, he emphasized the need for a vibrant tourism office in Katra that can effectively promote Jammu’s destinations to religious tourists. He proposed utilizing data from the yatra slip counter of the shrine board and sharing WhatsApp videos with visiting tourists to encourage them to explore other places during their visit.

Sahai highlighted the urgent need for controlling airfares and increasing the number of flights to meet the growing demand of visitors to Jammu. He recommended that the Suchetghar Beating Retreat, similar to the one at the Attari border, should be conducted daily instead of just on weekends to accommodate tourists who cannot wait for the weekends. Sahai also stressed the importance of promoting Jammu’s activities on the J&K Tourism Twitter handle to raise awareness about the region’s tourist spots.

Furthermore, Rahul Sahai recommended that the tourism department support startups in the sector. He suggested providing venues for events and festivals by the tourism department in places like Patnitop, along with liquor licenses and local NOCs for these venues. He also proposed offering sponsorship support for startups. During the meeting, Mr. Sonaad Gupta shared details about the recent events organized by his startup in Jammu and requested the department’s support for future events.

Sahai suggested introducing new tourist activities in and around Jammu, such as jungle safaris in the forests of Jasrota and Nandani to encourage tourists to extend their stay. He also recommended organizing sports activities like a cricket IPL match at MAM Stadium, developing shooting ranges, and hosting golf tournaments in Jammu to attract more visitors.

Regarding ticket prices for the Jammu Gandola, Sahai urged that the rates be reduced to make them more affordable for the general public. He also advocated for granting a liquor license to the Jammu Ropeway restaurant.

For Patnitop, Sahai suggested developing infrastructure for destination weddings and creating more rooms for accommodation. He proposed the development of street markets, pubs, and bars similar to McLeodganj. Additionally, he stressed the need for road widening in the area.

Regarding Sanasar, Sahai emphasized the importance of identifying and auctioning hotel sites in and around the region to provide quality accommodations for tourists. He recommended granting permissions to startups for luxury tents and streamlining the process for doing business.

For Mansar and Surinsar Lakes, Sahai emphasized the need for maintaining hygienic conditions, especially in restaurants and toilets. He suggested promoting the local tradition of feeding fishes by locals and tourists and maintaining the decks with an adequate supply of fish feed. Additionally, he highlighted the necessity for wider roads and improved parking facilities in the area.

For Kishtwar and Bhaderwah, Mr Sahai stressed the importance of widening the roads to address the high number of road accidents. He also highlighted the lack of good hotels, home stays, etc.