A meeting was convened by the newly elected office bearers of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Jammu & Kashmir Chapter, under the leadership of the Chapter’s Chairman, Mr. Sameer Baktoo. The meeting was attended by senior members as well as young and dynamic representatives of the TAAI JK Chapter, with the primary focus on addressing critical issues affecting the travel industry in Kashmir.
During the meeting, several key concerns were highlighted, including the imposition of unprecedented charges at Srinagar Airport for customer pickups, which come in addition to the parking fees already in place. Members voiced their concern over the burden these charges place on service providers and the potential negative impact on tourist arrivals. Another significant issue discussed was the exorbitantly high toll and entry charges levied on commercial vehicles heading to Doodpathri, which the members felt were excessive and unjustified.
In addition, the need for digitizing all tourism-related services was strongly emphasized as a measure to curb fraudulent activities and incidents of cheating involving tourists. Streamlining the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) process at Srinagar Airport was another key topic, as members expressed the need for simplifying procedures to enhance the overall visitor experience.
The members also discussed reviving the sound and light show at key tourist destinations in Srinagar to provide quality evening entertainment for visitors, thus enhancing the appeal of the region to both domestic and international tourists.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Director Tourism, Kashmir, Janab Nasir Mahmood Khan, Deputy Director Tourism (Recreation), Janab Malik Waseem, and other officials from the Department of Tourism, Kashmir. Director of Tourism, Kashmir, Janab Raja Yaqoob Sahib, attentively noted the issues raised by the TAAI JK Chapter. He assured the members of prompt action, stating that the department will work on these concerns with urgency to ensure the tourism sector remains robust and that the interests of all stakeholders are protected.
Mr. Sameer Baktoo, Chairman of the TAAI JK Chapter, appreciated the involvement of senior members and the active participation of the younger generation of travel professionals in raising these critical concerns. He expressed optimism that the collaboration between the tourism department and industry stakeholders would lead to positive changes and further boost the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
