Srinagar, June 17: Chairperson, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Dr. Jyotsna Suri today urged the government to come up with an ‘Investment Policy’ in J&K.
 At a conference ‘J&K Tourism: The Way Forward’ organized by it in collaboration with Suri Hospitality Group here today, the FICCI presented a memorandum to the government highlighting demands of tourism industry.
 The chamber demanded enhanced air, train and road connectivity to boost tourism in the state, while suggesting several steps the government should take immediately for the entertainment and convenience of the tourists.
 It asked the government to resume sound-and-light shows in Shalimar garden and other tourist spots. The other demands the FICCI put forth before the government included: Develop high quality toilet facilities at all major attractions, create leisure activities for tourist after sun down, enhance marketing activities, etc.
 In regard to connectivity, it suggested daily air flights should be introduced and prices rationalized. “Holiday specials (trains) should be introduced from all state capitals and the government should improve quality of roads leading to new destinations like Yousmarg, Wular lake, etc.”
 Speaking on the sidelines of the event, chairperson FICCI, Dr. Jyotsna Suri told Greater Kashmir that FICCI by organizing this event had brought together the tourism stakeholders. “Today’s event offered a joint platform to the stakeholders including the central Tourism Ministry, state government and private tourism players in J&K to discuss issues, challenges, policies and programmes related to tourism,” she said.
 Suri said the FICCI was committed to help the J&K tourism to grow. “We shall organize a brainstorming session in Srinagar with the local trade as well as the travel industry across India and come up with solutions and commitment from the private sector to take J&K tourism forward,” Suri who is also CMD, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group.
 She said the FICCI shall also hold a tourism road show at New Delhi. “We will also bring out a dedicated knowledge paper that will identify the challenges, potential and proposals to take tourism in Jammu and Kashmir to the next level.”
 Pertinently, the chief minister Omar Abdullah on the occasion said: “The conferences, sessions and reports by FICCI on the development of tourism in J&K are welcome steps.”
 However, he hastened to add: “We will be benefited in actual terms when you motivate the investors to invest in the State in tourism and other sectors.”
 The meeting was participated by the Union Minister for Tourism, Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of State for Tourism, Sultan Ahmad, J&K Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Parliament Members Ghulam Nabi Rattanpuri, Dr Mehboob Beg, Sharief-ud-Din Shariq, Union Tourism Secretary, R. H. Khawaja, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atal Dullo, senior officers from the Centre and the State and various representatives from tourism trade and commerce, travel agencies and hotel and houseboat associations.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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