Hotel Association delegation calls on Dir Tourism, discusses issues

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: A delegation of Hotel & Restaurant Association Katra comprising led by its President Rakesh Wazir, Chairman Shyam Lal Kesar, Sr Vice President Virender Kesar, Vice President Ajay Kotwal, Executive members Koushal Magotra, Sanjay Gupta members Mangal Singh and Virender Mattu met Director Tourism Jammu Raj Kumar Katoch on Wednesday.
During the meeting, besides discussing arrangements pertaining to ensuing Winter carnival at Patnitop, the delegation apprised the Director regarding negative impact being caused on Tourism due to restrictions, confusions and mismanagement at Lakhanpur. The delegation requested him for streamlining the process at the earliest so that J&K Union Territory, which is mostly dependent on tourists, may not get wiped out from tourism map.
Wazir while speaking on the occasion said, “No inter-state bus is allowed to enter J&K at Lakhanpur and people taking buses from different parts of country are de-boarded at Lakhanpur and made to wait for hours for onward journey to Jammu, Katra etc. They are again de-boarded at entry point of Katra i.e. Moori, if travelling without COVID report unlike Airport or Railway Stations, where tests are done there itself.” He said that while other competitive states are welcoming tourists and are presently totally packed with tourists, we at J&K are still struggling to find tourists and whosoever are coming are facing great hardships.
Katoch listened to the delegation patiently and assured that all highlighted issues would be redressed soon.