Category: Business

Business

‘Kashmir is milking the legacy built by its forefathers’

Editor

Gloves were out as tourists, hoteliers and even a minister today targeted tourism department for its non-serious approach to develop the vital sector. As the floor was opened for comments, people from wide range of fields came up with their set of grievances. Education Minister Nayeem Akhtar while addressing the seminar titled “Restoration, Preservation, Conservation and Promotion of Built and Cultural Heritage through Tourism,” said that Kashmir is milking the legacy built by its forefathers. “We as a generation, me included, have failed as we couldn’t add anything new to…

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Kashmir to turn heritage properties into profitable tourist attractions

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir is following footsteps of Rajasthan to turn heritage properties into profitable business through tourism. A high-level committee in the Tourism & Culture Departments will hold a series of consultations with the Rajasthan-based Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) to convert state’s built-in heritage into remunerative and productive assets. “Our state is a goldmine of heritage assets and the government will take all steps to showcase them by maintaining the regal essence of its glorious past,” said chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. Sayeed, who is also the state tourism…

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Amarnath Yatra suspended for second day

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The ongoing annual Hindu pilgrimage Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir was suspended for the second day on Sunday after the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed due to heavy rainfall. Heavy rains throughout the night triggered landslides at Kheri in Udhampur district and also at some places in the Ramban district, forcing authorities to close the highway, a police officer told IANS. “No pilgrim was allowed to proceed from Jammu to the valley,” he said. A decision on resuming the Amarnath Yatra will be taken only after the highway is…

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Landline, broadband services defunct in Srinagar

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BSNL: Irking people   Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) broadband users in summer capital Srinagar are up n arms against the authorities for failing to restore the service from over two weeks now. According to local newsgathering agency CNS, broadband and landline services are defunct in Rambagh, Natipora, Baghi Mehtab, Chanapora, Mehjoor Nagar areas of Srinagar city. Subscribers of the areas informed said that the service is not poor but totally defunct and out of order.  “We visited Barzaulla based BSNL office several times and every time, the Engineer assured…

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Weather terror scares tourists away from Kashmir

Editor

A series of cloudbursts, landslides and flood alerts in Kashmir – a combination of extreme events dubbed “weather terror” by local business people – has caused tourist arrivals to drop 60 percent so far this year, and things may get worse. Kashmir, whose stunning Himalayan mountain and lake scenery once made it a magnet for visitors, had seen its important tourism industry revive over the past four years, following two decades of armed insurgency against Indian rule which had deterred all but the hardiest travellers. From 2011 to 2014 Kashmir…

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Imports from California hit Kashmir walnut industry

Editor

After almonds, import of walnuts from California and other parts of America into Indian market has badly hit the walnut industry of Kashmir, with stakeholders blaming central government for allowing “free flow” of import. “It is very unfortunate that Union Agriculture Ministry has permitted imports of walnuts from California early this year probably to weaken the Kashmir walnuts industry,” the walnut growers said. “The Californian walnuts being imported into India have badly hit the prospectus of the growth of Kashmir walnut industry,” the growers said. They said the import of…

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Consumers in Kashmir shell out Rs.18 tax on every petrol litre

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir’s business community has demanded immediate rollback of increase in taxes of petrol and diesel recently imposed by state government, terming the hike as “undue and irrational”. The business community in the state has accused the state government of “inflicting miseries on people” of JK who have yet to recuperate from aftermath of September floods. The chambers, business associations from both provinces of the state, Jammu and Kashmir, have flayed the state government for increasing the rate of tax on petrol and diesel. The Jammu and Kashmir government…

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Jammu and Kashmir is as safe as any other part of country: Tourism Dept.

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Jammu and Kashmir is as safe as any part of the country and a preferred destination among domestic tourists, the Tourism department of the state has said. “There has been no instance of any tourist being attacked or kidnapped by any terrorist organization. Tourists are safe and will remain safe. There is police and administration to deal with the terrorists,” Director, Jammu Tourism, R K Varma told PTI. A team of the state’s Tourism department is here to take part in TTF Kolkata, one of the biggest travel-trade fairs in…

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JK tourism being promoted at TTF Kolkata

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Representatives of JK tourism today participated in the TTF Kolkata, Asia’s biggest travel show. Led by Managing Director, JKTDC and Director Tourism Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah, and Director Tourism Jammu, R K Verma, the participants from the state include prominent tourism traders and representatives of KCCI. Shah told over phone that West Bengal “ has been our focus as we are ge  ing a large number of visitors from this part of India.” Shah said: “ We off ered all help and assistance to the tour and travel operators…

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Kashmir Traders Oppose FDI in eCommerce retail

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Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers’ Federation today opposed any foreign direct investment in e-commerce retail, suggesting that the government should take all stakeholders on board before allowing any FDI. President KTMF, Muhammad Yasin Khan said the government should give preference to the interests of small retailers and consumers. “The FDI in e-commerce retail will hit the traders directly and will cause loss of livelihoods. It is unfortunate that we are ignored by the government in this issue,” Khan said. He said it was “mandatory” for the government to take traders on…

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