Several Hotelier delegations including Hotels and Lodges Associations from Jammu, Katra and Patnitop today called on Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture and Tourism, Priya Sethi and apprised her of their grievances and demands.Secretary Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez, Director, Tourism Jammu , Smita Sethi , Deputy Director Tourism, Subha Mehta besides senior functionaries of Pollution Control Board and Fire Department were present in the meeting.The delegation discussed several issues pertaining to renewal of registration, obtaining certification from pollution control board and fire department besides demanding recognition of hotels as industries so that they can avail the same benefits.The Minister, while referring hotels and lodges as an integral part of tourism sector, said that every stakeholder associated with the tourism industry of the state plays a significant role in his respective field. “Government is initiating several reformative measures to enhance tourist influx to the state, she affirmed saying that the hotel and lodging services have a major part to play in this regard”.
The Minister directed the concerned officers to redress the genuine issues projected by the delegations at the earliest. She also instructed them to educate the concerned about the guidelines regarding renewal of registration and obtaining No Objection Certificates.On being apprised by the delegation for lack of banking facility at Patnitop, the Minister directed the concerned to prepare a proposal in this regard.The delegations hailed the Minister for making concerted efforts to develop the tourism sector in the State and also expressed hope that their issues would be taken care of.