Asserting that tourism is the best way to promote dialogue, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the state government is making efforts to create world-class tourist infrastructure in J&K. Interacting with a delegation of tour operators from different cities of the country, the Chief Minister said tourism promoted people-to-people contact and tourists become goodwill ambassadors of a place. She said like the maxim “seeing is believing,” a tourist can testify the veracity of a claim about a place only after visiting it. She asked the tour operators to promote visiting…
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Business
Post good start, tourism sector hits new low in Valley
As the year 2016 nears its end, the tourism industry in the Valley is hoping to bounce back in the winter months after a setback in summer. The stakeholders say the year proved to be a mixed bag for the sector with footfalls witnessing a dip after a good start in early summer. “This year was a mixed bag for the tourism sector. After looking to touch an all-time high in July, figures then touched an all-time low in next months,” said Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Mahmood Ahmad Shah. The sector…
Read MoreTrade bodies term 2016 worst year for business
It was a double whammy for the traders and industrialists in Jammu and Kashmir this year. They were first hit badly by the unrest and then by the demonetisation. This year has been rated as one of the worst years for the traders and industrialists of the state as the business has come down by more than 50 per cent. The decline in trade is likely to create long-term effects on the economy of the militancy-infested state, say experts. “Though the global business was down throughout the year, Jammu and…
Read MoreKashmir’s Mushkbudgi, Kamad rice varieties get recognition
The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh on Wednesday hailed farming community of Danwantpora and Tangpawa Sagam in Anantnag district for their contribution to promote and produce Mushkbudgi and Kamad scented varieties of rice. The agriculture minister at a ceremony presented Plant Genome Saviour Community Award, citation and momentoes with Rs 10 lakh assistance by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India for conservation of Mushkbudgi and Kamad scented varieties of rice grown in Danwantpora…
Read More40 Days since demonetization, no queues outside banks, ATMs
Over a month after demonetisation was announced, Jammu and Kashmir has come out of long queues outside banks and ATMs. States such as Delhi, UP, Punjab and many others are still facing cash crunch even after the 40 days of demonetisation. Queues have vanished outside banks and ATMs. People faced cash crunch initially, but the situation has started coming to normalcy. Sources in banks claim that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has special concern for the state, as security agencies didn’t want to take any risk in Kashmir due…
Read MoreHit by unrest, Kashmir entrepreneurs pitch for ‘Business Interruption Insurance’
Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir Sunday called for introduction of a special indemnity product—Business Interruption Insurance— in Kashmir to cover the losses the local enterprises suffer during untoward situations in Kashmir. The demand has come at the time when the local business community and industrialists are witnessing worst slump due to closure of commercial activities for about five months in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir. President, Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir, FCIK, Er Mukhtar Yusuf, said the insurance product, once introduced, would relieve the industrialists from the anxiety and they…
Read MoreIslamic banking hits deadlock
No relevance, GoI has introduced Jan Dhan: Union Fin Min Virtually ruling out introduction of Islamic banking, the Finance Ministry today said it has “no relevance” as the Government of India has already introduced a host of financial inclusion schemes like Jan Dhan. The objectives of the financial inclusion for which Islamic banking was explored by RBI has no relevance, as government has already introduced other means of financial inclusion like Jan Dhan Yojana and Suraksha Bima Yojna for all citizens, Minister of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar said…
Read MoreKashmir in the time of demonetisation; ATMs with Cash, 4-5 people in queues
Consider visiting Kashmir if you are desperate for cash. The ATMs here have currency and the queues at most places are no more than 4-5 people long. Swept by violent protests since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July, the Valley at the moment is an unlikely oasis of calm at a time when the rest of India is in the midst of a cash crunch following last month’s demonetisation decision. “There was a rush on the first two days, but everything is normal now. The queues…
Read MorePeace important for tourism revival: Kashmir Economic Forum
Kashmir Economic Forum (KEF) Thursday said peace was important for the revival and promotion of tourism industry in the state especially in the Kashmir Valley. In a statement, KEF said the state government has to play a vital role in sustaining normalcy and peace in Kashmir. “It (the state government) must impress upon the central government to start meaningful talks on regular basis on Kashmir with stakeholders.” The KEF said though Hurriyat statement (in which it had invited tourists to Kashmir) is a welcome step, “only the sustained dialogue process…
Read MoreCenter hails Hurriyat’s call to Tourists, Yatris
My big salute goes to all those who support tourism: Union Minister The Modi government Wednesday hailed the Hurriyat call for tourists and yatris to visit the Valley. Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma welcomed the initiative. “My big salute goes to all those who support tourism, and yes, we are for it. The vision of our great Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is to see that the Valley comes back again. We are all prepared to see and ensure that the tourism industry in the Valley flourishes and for…
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