Hotel Association of India (HAI) has expressed steadfast support to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for the revival of tourism. Speaking at the recently concluded India Global Week, KB Kachru, Vice President, Hotel Association of India and Chairman Emeritus and Principal Advisor South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group called on investors to consider J&K for their new ventures citing quick developments and assuring good returns based on promising infrastructure and tools in the Union Territory.
Focusing on Tourism in these unsettling and unpredictable times, KB Kachru, Vice President, Hotel Association of India said, “Tourism is a real springboard for giving a major thrust to the overall economy particularly in J&K. There is a need to think of some quick wins for survival & revival. Fact remains that J&K and Tourism are inseparable. It has established & known multiple destinations for leisure, adventure & religious places. Hospitality is in Kashmiri blood; Kashmir has the capability of becoming a challenge to established world known destinations in the world. As Prime Minister Modi said in his inaugural address, we need to kill the existing anxiety and use this adversity as an opportunity.”
The J&K government has taken some exceptional measures in this direction. It is one of the very few states which has opened its gates for people and set up rules and regulations to ensure the health and safety of the people. HAI believes there is a need for the government to consider the condition of stakeholders of the state. India has over 1.85 billion domestic tourism travellers and 26 million people flying out of the country for leisure. “Even if we aim at a 5% of that population, we can see what potential J&K has to establish itself as a destination”, Kachru added.
Calling for support from the Central and State Government, Mr Kachru said, “Given that investment friendly policies are being set, key players need to have a steady hand on the wheel. Infrastructure development is the need. We need to identify new destinations and create easy accessibility. Moreover, the Government needs to continue to listen and handhold stakeholders at this time of crisis starting with those operating businesses, hotels, houseboats, and transporters. The government must take care of the workforce. In the long run, policy reforms will be needed.”
