Category: Business

Business

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.

Editor

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

Editor

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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‘Kashmir Focusing On Adventure Tourism’

Editor

To bring back tourists to the Jammu and Kashmir after the devastating floods last year, the state government has now started focusing on adventure tourism. “Our focus is on adventure tourism in a big way. We have so many options available for it right from trekking to biking, river rafting, skiing, etc,” J-K tourism development corporation managing director Farooq Ahmad Shah said at the inauguration of the Travel and Tourism Fair here. “In 2014 we had 11.5 lakh tourists besides the Amarnath yatra pilgrims. This year we expect an increase…

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