Pick and choose policy for tourist agents leave tourism promotion at stake

Srinagar, Jan 19 (KNS): The pick and choose policy adopted for travel agents has put the tourism promotions at different platforms at stake with sources reliable to the development claiming that the officials are adopting lethargic approach towards the promotion of this industry.
Sources reliable to the development told KNS that the promotion of the tourism industry is not being done like the way it should have been. “It is unfortunate that the livelihood of thousands of tourism players is being risked by not promoting the tourism in the State in a well manner,” they said.
They added that the tourism department also adopted the pick and choose policy for the travel agents who had to showcase the State’s tourism, which has left the livelihood thousands of players at risk. “The cases are already registered against some of the travel agents who have been picked to showcase the State’s tourism at different platform,” they said.
“Though Kashmir received adequate snowfall in this month, but the flow of tourists is very less, which is the outcome of lethargic approach adopted by the tourism department in showcasing the State’s tourism at different platforms,” they said.
Moreover, they said that the airfare has been hiked in this winter but none from the concerned authorities approached the Ministry of Civil Aviation in this regard.
Sources further said that a young and dynamic IAS officer should have been appointed for tourism enforcement so that there could have been accountability in the section. “There is no accountability in the section at present and there is a dire need to take some steps in this regard,” they added.
“The registration done by the houseboat owners are also nowhere following the 2014 floods,” they said, adding that no document in this regard is available in the department.
Furthermore, the officials in the department have also demanded empowerment of tourism police, saying that the tourism police lack both power and manpower, which should be given to them.
Director Tourism Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani while talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) refuted the allegations, saying that “it is only rivalry between the associations due to which they are trying to defame the department.”
“Everything is being done properly and all the registered associations were called who were asked to send to member delegation to showcase the State’s tourism,” he said, adding that it is not possible to accommodate every member to showcase the tourism at different platforms.
He added that the promotion of tourism at different platforms was doing fine, adding that they have also started publishing advertisement through daily national newspapers in different States. (KNS)