Category: Business

Business

Copter service to Gulmarg, Pahalgam launched

Editor

The government today launched its first-ever helicopter service to Pahalgam and Gulmarg resorts with an aim to boost high-end tourism in the Valley. “Even though only a small fraction of travellers will take chopper rides initially, it is a big step towards positioning Kashmir as a high-end destination,” said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed after launching the service from the Srinagar airport. Mufti said tourists could now directly travel to popular tourist spots Gulmarg and Pahalgam from the airport. “After alighting from the aircraft, visitors can hop on to choppers…

Read More

Will act as bridge for Indo-Turkish business ties: KCCI

Editor

Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, (KCCI) Friday resolved to work as “bridge” between Turkey and India to promote business ties between the two countries. KCCI also said it would promote trade and tourism ties between Turkey and Kashmir to boost economy both sides. President, KCCI Mushtaq Ahmad Wani said a delegation of 25 traders, including tourism related players would visit to Turkey in March 2016 to promote import- export ties. “The delegation will meet all the business bodies in Turkey during the next year’s visit to promote import-export business…

Read More

Dubai’s second-most powerful man visiting Kashmir

Editor

EMAAR chairman keen to invest in JK: Drabu  Chairman of EMAAR, the leading real estate company of United Arab Emiratus (UAE) Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar will be visiting Srinagar next month to explore possibilities of investing in Kashmir. This was conveyed by him to Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu who met him in Dubai. The second-most powerful man in Dubai, Alabbar had detailed meeting with Dr Drabu on the sidelines of Arab-India Economic Forum held there from November 16 to 17. It is learnt that both of them exchanged views on…

Read More

Flood-hit traders demand separate rehab package

Editor

Warn of mass movement if Centre fails to ‘redesign’ relief The Valley traders today threatened to launch a mass movement if the Centre did not announce a separate package for the victims of last year’s September floods. “We will launch a mass movement if New Delhi fails to redesign the package in accordance with ground requirements…only Rs 800 crore has been earmarked for the so-called rehabilitation of traders even as floods destroyed Kashmir economy to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore. Over 50,000 shops were destroyed in floods,” Mohammad…

Read More

Valley apples everywhere but brand Kashmir nowhere in sight

Editor

Despite being one of the largest apple producing regions in the entire South Asia, Kashmir has not been able to establish its product as a brand across the markets. Kashmir produces 16 to 18 lakh tonnes of apple every year with bulk of the produce dispatched to different markets across India. However, the apple business here is yet to be granted the industry status. The bulk of Kashmir apple is branded and gets traded through the old and worn out traditional methods despite technological advancements in the field of horticulture.…

Read More

Reconstitute Tourism Advisory Board: KCCI to govt

Editor

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) today demanded reconstitution of the recently formed Tourism Advisory Board. “While the chamber is considering all the pros and cons of the formation of the Advisory Board, it has been unanimously decided to take up the issue with the Chief Minister in an appropriate manner for reconstituting the same in consultation with the real tourism stakeholders,” KCCI secretary general Faiz Bakshi said after a meeting of the chamber here. Bakshi claimed that the board consisted of members most of whom are non-experts…

Read More

Post floods, Valley aims for more tourist footfalls this winter

Editor

To bring back visitors to the Valley in large numbers, the Tourism Department has decided to host a series of events in the winter. The tourism sector took a severe hit during the September floods last year. This year too, the arrivals have remained low, mainly due to bad weather. To promote tourism, the government has sent a team to Austria to promote Gulmarg with the aim of attracting high-end European tourists interested in adventure sports activities such as heli-skiing. In charge Director, Tourism, Mahmood Ahmad Shah said they were…

Read More

Government constitutes 23-member ‘Tourism Advisory Board’

Editor

Chaya, Burza, Siah, Tramboo among its members  The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a Tourism Advisory Board under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The Board comprises 23 members and a member Secretary  to advise and suggest measures for tourism development, promotion and publicity, creation of high end infrastructure and any other issue related to Tourism in the State. The members are Parvez Dewan IAS, Former Union Tourism Secretary, Dr. Lalit K Panwar IAS, Former Union Tourism Secretary, Umang Narula, IAS, Chairman cum Managing Director ITDC, Ashwani…

Read More

New Delhi’s financial packages to JK ‘fail’ to bolster Kashmir economy

Editor

The Rs 80000-crore financial package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar on November 7 may have gratified the PDP-BJP coalition government in the State, but doesn’t extend any hope about stimulating Kashmir’s own economic strength, experts have opined, citing ‘failure’ of a host of previous such financial packages in Kashmir. The present financial package is the third such economic package announced for J&K since 2002 when the then Prime Minister AtalBihari Vajpayee announced Rs 8687 crore package envisaging 26 projects. According to experts, a major share of the…

Read More

TASK to organize road shows in major cities: Siah

Editor

Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK) is the oldest travel trade body which has been at the forefront of promoting Kashmir for tourism. Initially there were only nine members when its foundation was laid in 1968. Since then, TASK has promoted Kashmir and many of its members emerged as the leading travel agents in the State. Currently, TASK has 107 members. Recently one of its member Center Point Tours and Travels received national award. In its recent elections, TASK elected noted travel agent Mohamamd Ibrahim Siah as its new President.…

Read More