KCCI Calls for Streamlined Tourism Registration Renewal to Boost Sector
Srinagar, January 3: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urgently called upon the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Mr. Omar Abdullah, to address the pressing challenges faced by tourism stakeholders regarding the renewal of tourism registration certificates. This call to action comes in light of the recent notification (No. Reg/1129/581/DTR dated 21-12-2024) issued by the Director of Tourism, Kashmir, which has raised concerns within the tourism and hospitality sectors.
KCCI has been at the forefront of advocating for the interests of the tourism sector, which is a vital component of Kashmir’s economy. The Chamber had previously brought the issue to the Chief Minister’s attention during a meeting held on October 29 at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. During this meeting, KCCI submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting the challenges faced by tourism stakeholders and later followed up with a letter to the Chief Minister. Despite assurances from the authorities that a solution would be sought, the recent notification has left these concerns unaddressed, causing disappointment among stakeholders.
Complex and Time-Consuming Renewal Process
Tourism stakeholders, including hoteliers, houseboat operators, guesthouse proprietors, restaurant owners, and tour & travel agencies, are grappling with an unnecessarily complex and time-consuming system for renewing their registration certificates. The current process requires multiple clearances and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from various departments, forcing stakeholders to endure endless office visits, extended waiting periods, and an ever-growing list of formalities.
KCCI has expressed its disappointment that the introduction of an online renewal system has not simplified the process as intended. Instead of streamlining the procedure, stakeholders are still required to obtain NOCs from various departments, despite these departments having independent mechanisms to seek compliance. This redundancy has only added to the burdens faced by those in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Proposed Solutions and Efficient Practices
The Chamber had proposed delinking the renewal process from NOC requirements, drawing comparisons to efficient practices in departments such as Income Tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and Commercial Taxes, where inter-departmental clearances are not mandated. Adopting a similar approach in the tourism sector would greatly alleviate the burden on stakeholders and encourage compliance. By removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, the government can foster a more supportive environment for tourism businesses to thrive.
KCCI also emphasised the difficulties faced by hotels and guest houses constructed decades ago under earlier regulatory frameworks. Many of these establishments are now being asked to comply with regulations enforced long after their construction, placing an undue burden on their operations. The Chamber argues that a more pragmatic approach is needed to address these challenges and ensure that older establishments can continue to operate without facing insurmountable obstacles.
Urgent Call for Consultation and Suspension of Notification
In light of these challenges, KCCI has urged the government to suspend the recent notification until a workable solution is devised in consultation with tourism stakeholders. The Chamber believes that meaningful dialogue between the government and industry representatives is essential to develop a system that is both efficient and supportive of the tourism sector’s needs.
Decline in Tourism Arrivals and Need for Promotion
Furthermore, the Chamber has highlighted the significant decline in tourism arrivals in Kashmir since July 2024. This downturn has had a substantial impact on the local economy, which relies heavily on tourism. Despite the availability of a vast inventory of tourism resources, the industry has struggled to attract visitors, exacerbating the economic challenges faced by the region.
In response to this decline, KCCI has called on the government to intensify its efforts to promote tourism. The Chamber emphasised the urgent need to revitalise the sector through targeted marketing initiatives. By doubling down on meaningful promotional activities, the government can help to rejuvenate the industry, attract more visitors, and ultimately boost the local economy.
Importance of Collaboration and Strategic Initiatives
KCCI believes that collaboration between the government and tourism stakeholders is crucial to address the current challenges and ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector. The Chamber has proposed several strategic initiatives to promote tourism effectively, including:
- Enhanced Digital Marketing: Leveraging digital platforms to reach a global audience and showcase Kashmir’s unique attractions and experiences.
- Collaborative Campaigns: Partnering with travel influencers, bloggers, and media outlets to create compelling content that highlights the beauty and cultural richness of Kashmir.
- Seasonal Promotions: Developing special packages and promotions tailored to different seasons, encouraging year-round tourism and spreading the economic benefits across the entire region.
- Infrastructure Development: Investing in infrastructure improvements, such as better road connectivity, enhanced public transportation, and upgraded tourist facilities, to provide a seamless experience for visitors.
- Capacity Building: Offering training and capacity-building programs for tourism stakeholders to improve service quality and enhance the overall visitor experience.
Bottom-Line
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has made a compelling case for the government to address the pressing challenges faced by tourism stakeholders regarding the renewal of tourism registration certificates. By streamlining the process, removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, and intensifying promotional efforts, the government can help to revitalise the tourism sector and boost the local economy.
KCCI’s call for collaboration and strategic initiatives underscores the importance of a coordinated approach to overcome the current challenges and ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism in Kashmir. By working together, the government and industry representatives can create a more supportive environment that fosters growth and prosperity for the region.
No: KCC&I/C/01/2025/4262 4TH January, 2025
PRESS NOTE
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has called upon the Chief Minister, J&K Mr. Omar Abdullah to address pressing challenges tourism stakeholders face regarding renewing tourism registration certificates.
The Chamber expresses serious concerns over the recent notification (No. Reg/1129/581/DTR dated 21-12-2024) issued by the Director of Tourism, Kashmir, urging that the process be streamlined to mitigate hardships for the tourism and hospitality sectors.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) had previously brought the issue to the attention of the Chief Minister during a meeting held on October 29 at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. At that time, the Chamber submitted a memorandum and later also sent a letter to the Chief Minister, detailing the challenges faced by tourism stakeholders. Although the authorities had assured the KCCI that they would work together to find a solution, the Chamber has expressed disappointment that no meaningful consultation took place before the latest notification was issued, leaving the concerns of stakeholders unaddressed.
Tourism stakeholders, including hoteliers, houseboats, guesthouse operators, restaurants, tour & travel sectors are grappling with an unnecessarily complex and time-consuming system for renewing their registration certificates. The process requires multiple clearances and NOCs from various departments, forcing stakeholders to endure endless office visits, extended waiting periods, and a growing list of formalities.
The chamber is disappointed that the introduction of an online renewal system did not simplify the process as intended. Instead, stakeholders are still required to obtain NOCs from various departments, despite these departments having independent mechanism to seek compliance.
The Chamber had proposed delinking the renewal process from NOC requirements, drawing comparisons to efficient practices in departments such as Income Tax, GST, and Commercial Taxes, where inter-departmental clearances are not mandated. Adopting a similar approach in the tourism sector would greatly alleviate the burden on stakeholders and encourage compliance.
KCCI emphasises the difficulties faced by hotels and guest houses constructed decades ago under earlier regulatory frameworks but are being asked to comply with regulations enforced later on.
KCCI urges the government to suspend the notification until a workable solution is devised in consultation with stakeholders.
Furthermore, in light of the significant decline in tourism arrivals in Kashmir since July 2024, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) urges the government to intensify its efforts to promote tourism. KCCI emphasised the urgent need to revitalise the sector through targeted marketing initiatives. By doubling down on meaningful promotional activities, the government can help to revitalise the industry, attract more visitors, and ultimately boost the local economy, which has been impacted by the recent downturn in tourism despite huge available inventory.
Faiz Ahmad Bakshi
Secretary General
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry INC.
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TEL: 0194-2455446/2482176
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E-MAIL : thekashmirchamber@gmail.com
Website : www.thekcci.in
