PHDCCI promises to promote tourism, horticulture in Valley

Srinagar, April 11

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The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its first executive meeting of the Kashmir chapter here today.

During the meeting members resolved to promote tourism and trade in the Valley and work towards resolution of various issues faced by the stakeholders.

Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya said the chamber had formed the Kashmir chapter to address the specific issues facing the business and tourism community of the Valley.

Director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Debjit Talpatra said the focus of the chamber would be to promote Kashmir tourism and also work towards promoting horticulture, farming and handicrafts sector.

He said the chamber had held a global tourism conference in Srinagar last year and would hold another such event for the promotion of Kashmir tourism in the future.

The participants raised several issues facing the Kashmir Inc.

Co-chairman, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kashmir chapter, Zahoor Ahmad Tramboo, meanwhile, said the NIT issue had been “blown out of proportion” by the media.

He said the “negative coverage” could have a bearing on the Valley’s tourism sector.

Hoteliers Javed Burza and Afzal Parrey raised the issue of road and air connectivity to the Valley, which they said was affecting the tourism sector.

Burza said exorbitant airfares during the peak tourism season and frequent closure of Jammu-Srinagar national highway, particularly during winter, affected the flow of tourists by 50 per cent. — TNS