Jammu: The Hotel Association of India (HAI) presented a 25-year roadmap of the future of the hospitality and tourism industry in Kashmir in its “Vision 2047” document released here on Saturday and said its post-pandemic popularity as a travel destination has increased.
“The vision documents also highlights the rising appeal of Kashmir as a travel destination, especially for adventure tourism, in the aftermath of the pandemic,” HAI said in a statement here.
Also Read: New bridge on Chenab to cut travel time from Jammu to Kashmir
This recognition of Kashmir’s allure coincides with an increase in tourist numbers, which is bolstered by increased support from the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration, it said.
The HAI functionary claimed that approximately 18 million tourists visited J&K and G20-related events last year and this year’s Miss World programme has positioned the UT as a prominent contender in event tourism.
Also Read: Tourism ministry strives to grow India as global wedding destination
The HAI said that the recent G20 meeting hosted in the Union territory was not only a boost to regional tourism but also showcased the area’s potential as a destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and wedding tourism.
KB Kachru, HAI vice president, attributed the Kashmir’s rich history, culture, and natural beauty as the reason to recent surge in tourists. The HAI report also addresses challenges in sustainable tourism growth and suggests policy interventions to meet tourism targets, he said.
Also Read: Amarnath Yatra: Hotels mull 30% rebate on advance hotel booking
The Union government has allocated a record budget of ₹786 crores for the Jammu and Kashmir tourism sector, a substantial increase from previous allocations, to harness tourism’s potential for job creation and inclusive economic growth, the statement said.
Planned allocations for all 20 districts of the Union territory have more than doubled from ₹5,136 crores in 2020-2021 to ₹12,600 crores in 2021-2022, it added. The report explores various potential scenarios for the future and what the industry can achieve the time India celebrates its 100th year of Independence, it said.
Also Read: 3-day national tourism meet to begin on Sept 18 at Dharmshala
The document envisions a dynamic, vibrant hospitality industry that contributes to the nation development goals, said MP Bezbaruah, secretary general of the Hotel Association of India. HAI released the report following a meeting with Union Secretary (Tourism) V Vidyavathi, during which the association presented her with a copy of the report.
