Mushtaq Chaya re-elected JK Hoteliers Club President; new team formed amid tourism recovery push

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, May 23: The Jammu & Kashmir Hoteliers Club (JKHC) on Friday reconstituted its office bearers and executive committee for the 2026–2028 term, re-electing prominent hotelier and business leader Mushtaq Ahmad  Chaya as president of the body.

According to the newly announced structure, Riyaz A. Shahdad has been appointed Senior Vice President, Tariq Ghani as Junior Vice President, Abdul Wahid Malik as Secretary General, Mukhtar A. Shah as Joint Secretary General, Naseera A. Khan as Finance Secretary and Murad Kapra as Joint Finance Secretary.

Veteran hotelier Sardar Narinder Singh has been named Founder Chairman, while Zahoor A. Trumboo and Mohammad Afzal Parray will serve as Patron and Mentor respectively.

The newly constituted executive committee includes Jyotsana Suri and Omer Trumboo as Advisors. Other members of the executive committee include Latif A. Bhat, Farooq A. Hafiz, Akib Chaya, M. Shafi Trumboo, Manzoor A. Burza, Amir Gunna, Sadam Zaroo, Aatif Yaqeen, Manzoor A. Shah, Mubi Shaw, Tariq Hafiz, Javed Anim, Khawar Jeelani, Sajad Makaya, Hayat Bhat, Hussain Khan, A.B. Majeed Sofi, Khalid Sheikh, Usman Shahdad, Manzoor Wagnoo, Naseem Chaya, Shabir Bazaz, Manzoor Khan, Zahoor A. Khan, Aazad Malik, Aadil Shah, Asma and Nayeem Putoo.

The reconstituted body is expected to work towards strengthening the hospitality sector, improving coordination among stakeholders and promoting sustainable tourism growth in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking on the occasion, JKHC President Mushtaq Chaya said the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir has started witnessing signs of recovery after suffering a setback following last year’s attack in Pahalgam, which had adversely impacted tourist arrivals and business sentiment.

“Last year we faced a tragic incident in Pahalgam which temporarily derailed the tourism sector and affected confidence among visitors. However, tourism has now started reviving and we are seeing encouraging signs of recovery,” Chaya said.

He said it was important to collectively sustain the momentum and continue promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a safe and welcoming destination.

“Tourism is the backbone of Jammu & Kashmir’s economy and provides livelihoods to thousands of families. The revival of tourism will not only help the hospitality sector but also transporters, artisans, traders and several allied sectors dependent on visitors,” he said.

Chaya stressed that tourism growth must go hand in hand with environmental protection, saying preservation of the region’s fragile ecology was crucial for long-term sustainability.

“Jammu & Kashmir’s natural beauty is our greatest asset. We have to protect our environment, maintain cleanliness and encourage responsible tourism practices so that future generations also benefit from this sector,” he said.

He further said the tourism and hospitality sector plays a critical role in employment generation and economic growth, adding that sustained recovery would create more job opportunities for youth and support livelihoods across the region.

Chaya also urged all stakeholders, including the government, tourism players and local communities, to work collectively to strengthen the tourism sector and reinforce confidence among visitors.