Category: Business

Business

5% Hotel occupancy in ‘Peak’ tourist season

Editor

Even as tourist arrivals in the Kashmir valley have remained on the lower side this year, the hoteliers are among the worst hit. The stakeholders say there is just around five per cent occupancy rate in hotels at a time usually considered to be the prime tourist season. “There is just around five per cent occupancy. Kashmir hotels have got bed capacity of around 70,000 and there are just a few thousand tourists. This is like a drop in the ocean in the summer months usually considered to be the…

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Kashmir Industrialists call Centre’s tax exemption decision ‘Discriminatory’

Editor

Calling the central government’s recent tax exemption announcement for Jammu and Kashmir ‘discriminatory as is going to benefit only handful of industrial units in the state’, the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) today expressed surprise over the statements of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her three cabinet colleagues welcoming the decision. FCIK also sought J&K Government’s clarification on how the centre’s is going to boost and promote the industrial development in the state. On August 16, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the extension in tax exemption…

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NIA arrests businessman Zahoor Watali for ‘Funding Militants’

Editor

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today arrested businessman Zahoor Ahmad Watali for allegedly funding militant and separatist activities in the state. Watali, who is an alleged hawala conduit, was arrested in New Delhi this evening following multiple searches on Wednesday at various locations in Kashmir which belong to Watali’s relatives and employees. “The NIA today arrested Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in connection with a case pertaining to the funding of terrorist and separatist activities in J&K,” said NIA Inspector General (IG) Alok Mittal. Watali is being questioned by NIA officials…

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Businessman’s office, house raided in Srinagar by Enforcement Directorate

Editor

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday raided the house and office of a leading businessman and carpet exporter in Kashmir in connection with exports proceeds involving over Rs 20 crore. A joint team of the Enforcement Directorate and Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday raided businessman Sheikh Ashiq’s office Al-Khuddam at the Sangarmal complex inSrinagar and his house at the Ahmad Nagar locality of the city. Ashiq and his family are into carpet export business and also run a tour and travel agency under the name of…

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Jhelum cruise showcases old city’s heritage

Editor

Trial run started on July 12, service likely to give a boost to tourism Even as the government’s plan of a water transport service is yet to see the light of day, the Jhelum cruise has been making travellers discover Srinagar’s rich heritage. The cruise offers glimpses of old heritage buildings and ancient structures of Khanqah-e-Moula, Hanuman Temple, Badshah’s tomb and Hazrat Bulbul Shah shrine on the banks of the Jhelum. “It is just a trial run at present. The cruise is showcasing Srinagar’s heritage,” said Ufair Ajaz, vice-president, business…

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Fest aims to put Gurez on adventure tourism map

Editor

In an effort to put the virgin locations of Gurez on the tourism map, a three-day ‘Gurez Festival’, organised by the government, started on Saturday. The festival will promote Gurez as a destination for adventure sports activities. “Gurez has a lot of tourism potential. There is scope for all activities, including trekking, mountain biking and white water rafting, which need to be promoted through such festivals,” said Tourism Director, Kashmir, Mahmood A Shah. Adventure sports activities like trekking, white water rafting, mountain biking and angling will be part of the…

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Panel criticises trade body leaders house arrest: GST Row

Editor

The Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC), an amalgam of various trade bodies, today flayed the government for placing under house arrest its leaders ahead of the proposed sit-in on Tuesday. JKCC coordinator Siraj Ahmad said an emergency meeting of the amalgam was held today where the members expressed “utter disbelief, shock and surprise over the unwarranted and uncalled for house arrest of its leaders, Dr Mubeen Shah and Mohammad Yasin Khan”. He said they had been put under house arrest today as the JKCC had called for a sit-in…

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Secrets places of Kashmir no one will tell you about

Editor

Talk about Kashmir and the places that come to mind are Srinagar, Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. They remain the most frequented and popular tourist destinations. There’s much more to discover in this lovely state. Presenting the lesser-known beautiful places of Kashmir that you must visit once in your lifetime: Gurez Valley Photographs by Amit Tyagi The Kishanganga river flows through this picturesque valley, located in northern Kashmir. For a view of its river flowing in front and the pyramid-shaped peak of Habba Khatoon — named after the famous Kashmiri poet —…

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Rafting event organised at Wessun to promote tourism

Editor

The Department of Tourism, Kashmir, and Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir organised a rafting championship at Wessun in Ganderbal district as part of its efforts to promote tourism. Expressing happiness over the successful conclusion of the championship today, Minister for Public Works Naeem Akthar, who gave away prizes on the occasion, said youth should highlight positive stories of the state. Kashmir Tourism Director Mahmood A Shah said the department was vigorously promoting adventure sports in Kashmir. “The adventure tourism also provides opportunity for entrepreneurs. We have been organising training…

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Artisans protest, seek GST rollback on handicrafts

Editor

The demand to rollback the goods and service tax (GST) on handicrafts grew louder as artisans, traders, manufacturers, exporters and raw material suppliers associated with the sector staged a protest here today. Even as the stakeholders associated with the handicrafts sector are already up in arms against the GST implementation, they threatened to intensify protests in case their demand was not met. “We have been cheated by the government. The Finance Minister had assured us in June that the GST will not be implemented on the handicraft sector. However, when…

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