Category: Business

Business

Locals feeling unsafe, how can we convince tourists?: Tourism Body

Editor

Already hit by nose-dive in tourist arrivals to Kashmir, people associated with the tourism industry now fear that the growing incidents of braid chopping and attacks on people suspected as braid choppers might “deepen the negative perception about the Valley among the prospective tourists.” On Friday, the heads of at least eight tourism organisations met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and urged her to “take steps” to stop braid chopping incidents, stating that the “constant fear in the air is set to cast a shadow on winter tourism in Kashmir.” A…

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Roll back GST on Kashmir Arts demands NC

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National Conference Thursday expressed serious concern over the ‘continuous indifference of both state and central governments’ towards the plight of artisans, carpet workers, shawl embroidery workers, wood carvers and other skilled, semi skilled workers following the imposition of GST in J&K. The party demanded that the government initiates process of declaring handicrafts and other allied sectors GST exempted. Criticising the PDP BJP government over what he called ‘its inability and inaction to make handicrafts and allied sectors GST free’, NC Provincial Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, in a written statement, said,…

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Braid chopping incidents aimed to malign Kashmir’s image: Tourism Body

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As authorities have failed to stop braid chopping incidents or caught the people involved in the act, tourism players here too have become apprehensive about the happenings terming it an attempt to ‘malign Kashmir’s image across world’. People involved in the tourism trade believe that the continuous incidents of braid chopping would further dent Kashmir’s tourism sector, which is already in doldrums post 2016 unrest. “It is a serious issue which has confronted not only our society but our economy as well,” said chairman, JK Hotelier Club, Mushtaq Chaya. “Government…

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Job Cuts, Cash Crunch, All because of GST: Kashmir’s Carpet Traders

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Traders say Kashmir’s centuries-old handicraft and carpet industry is facing the biggest survival challenge these days after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) came Nazir Ahmad Dar’s livelihood is literally hanging by a thread. The carpet-weaver who lives on the outskirts of Srinagar is under distress after the national sales tax GST was implemented in Kashmir valley. He had to shut over 20 looms. Out of 100 weavers working with him, 85 have already lost their job. Reason: the 50-year-old loom owner has not got a single order for the…

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GST gets simpler for small businesses and exporters

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The GST Council tweaked rules on Friday to make life simpler for small businesses and exporters and also cut rates on 27 products , including man-made yarn, which was a key demand of the textiles sector, in a bid to mollify those complaining about the new tax regime. While the main focus was on reducing the compliance burden for a majority of taxpayers+ who contribute a minuscule part of the revenue, the move to reduce the rate on man-made fibre was meant to comfort businessmen in states such as Gujarat, where…

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KCCI & JCCI to work in Unison stay away from politically sensitive issues

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The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and its counterpart Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) have joined hands to work on issues confronting various business sectors and overall development of the state. In a joint press conference held at KCCI office in Srinagar on Friday, the presidents of both KCCI and JCCI put forth several demands, which both the chambers would be raising with the government but vowed to avoid raking up any conflicting issues. “With regard to policy matters and issues wherein there are divergent views,…

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Negative publicity hurting tourism in Kashmir: Travel Industry

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Travel agents from several parts of the country and abroad feel that the situation in Kashmir was not being portrayed “correctly” and that negative publicity was hurting the tourism sector in the valley. A group of travel agents from several cities of the country and Thailand, on a familiarisation tour of Kashmir, visited prominent destinations such Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. “Before sending tourists to Kashmir, we wanted to visit ourselves and we found everything is good. I appreciate how people are so nice and friendly with the tourists. Tourists are…

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GST ‘Rollback’ attempt to confuse people: Industry

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The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Kashmir, (CCIK) today termed the government claims of reducing the GST rates on handicraft items and bringing relief to small traders a “brazen attempt to pull a fast one and confuse the people of the state in general and the business community in particular”. This was stated by CCIK secretary general Mauzam Bakshi after a meeting of the chamber. “While analysing the press statement as well as the official notification, experts have found that no reduction in the tax rates of Kashmir handicrafts…

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J&K gets cold response at tourism awards

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Notwithstanding the claims of the PDP-BJP coalition government that “Kashmir is the warmest place on the earth,” J&K has failed to win accolades at the National Tourism Awards, 2015-16 despite its scenic beauty and hospitality. The National Tourism Awards were presented by President Ram Nath Kovind to various segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry at a function organised by the Ministry of Tourism on the occasion of World Tourism Day in New Delhi today. Barring a joint award in the category of ‘Best Airport’ clinched by Srinagar International…

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Kashmir to celebrate its chief fruit with ‘Apple Year’

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A series of promotional activities are scheduled over the next two years as the Jammu and Kashmir Government prepares for the launch of ‘Apple Year’, dedicated to the chief fruit of region. The Apple Year, which was announced by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti several months ago, will begin with the harvesting season later this week or next week. It is the first detailed initiative by the state government dedicated to the promotion of the fruit industry, which is the backbone of the region’s economy with an annual turnover of Rs…

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