Kashmir Tourism Sparks Uproar with Abrupt Withdrawal from Mumbai Event

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

In a significant blow to Kashmir’s tourism promotion efforts, the Department of Tourism’s abrupt withdrawal from the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) in Mumbai has triggered widespread outrage among industry stakeholders. The last-minute decision, announced without prior notice, has left numerous travel operators stranded in Mumbai after investing heavily in travel arrangements and promotional materials.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) swiftly convened an emergency meeting with representatives from 20 leading hotels, houseboat operators, and tour organizations to address the fallout. Frustration ran high as stakeholders criticized the department’s mismanagement of this prestigious event, scheduled to take place from January 30 to February 1.

Unanimously, the heads of travel and tour organizations declared their intent to reconsider participation in future events organized by the Tourism Department. This stance reflects mounting dissatisfaction within the industry over the department’s failure to handle promotional activities effectively.

Industry representatives at the KCCI meeting voiced concerns that the department’s absence at one of India’s premier tourism fairs sends a damaging signal about Kashmir’s tourism sector. They stressed that such mismanagement undermines local businesses and threatens Kashmir’s reputation as a top-tier tourist destination.

In response, the stakeholders demanded the formation of a dedicated Tourism Board to oversee the department’s operations, citing the need for experienced leadership. They also called on the Chief Minister to launch a high-level inquiry into the incident to prevent similar setbacks in the future.

The meeting was attended by prominent tourism associations, including TASK, KHAROA, UTTA, JKHARA, TAFOK, AKTO, and other key industry bodies, all of whom supported the call for accountability. Collectively, the participants urged the Chief Minister to investigate the matter thoroughly, warning that this episode risks sending a negative message about Kashmir’s tourism sector.