KCCI urges Omar to simplify process of renewing tourism registration certificates

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)—the region’s leading trade body, on Saturday called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address pressing challenges tourism stakeholders face regarding renewing tourism registration certificates.

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A statement said the Chamber expressed serious concerns over the recent notification issued by the Director of Tourism, Kashmir, urging that the process be streamlined to mitigate hardships for the tourism and hospitality sectors.

KCCI had previously brought the issue to the attention of the Chief Minister during a meeting held on October 29 at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. At that time, the Chamber submitted a memorandum and later also sent a letter to the Chief Minister, detailing the challenges faced by tourism stakeholders, the statement said.

“Although the authorities had assured the KCCI that they would work together to find a solution, the Chamber has expressed disappointment that no meaningful consultation took place before the latest notification was issued, leaving the concerns of stakeholders unaddressed,” it said.

According to KCCI, tourism stakeholders, including hoteliers, houseboats, guesthouse operators, restaurants, tour & travel sectors are grappling with an unnecessarily complex and time-consuming system for renewing their registration certificates. “The process requires multiple clearances and NOCs from various departments, forcing stakeholders to endure endless office visits, extended waiting periods, and a growing list of formalities,” the body said.

The Chamber claimed it was disappointed that the introduction of an online renewal system did not simplify the process as intended. “Instead, stakeholders are still required to obtain NOCs from various departments, despite these departments having independent mechanism to seek compliance,” it said.

The statement said the “chamber had proposed delinking the renewal process from NOC requirements, drawing comparisons to efficient practices in departments such as Income Tax, GST and Commercial Taxes, where inter-departmental clearances are not mandated.”

“Adopting a similar approach in the tourism sector would greatly alleviate the burden on stakeholders and encourage compliance,” the statement said.

KCCI urged the government to suspend the notification until a workable solution is devised in consultation with stakeholders.

“In light of the significant decline in tourism arrivals in Kashmir since July 2024, KCCI urges the government to intensify its efforts to promote tourism,” the statement said.

“There is an urgent need to revitalise the sector through targeted marketing initiatives. By doubling down on meaningful promotional activities, the government can help to revitalise the industry, attract more visitors and ultimately boost the local economy, which has been impacted by the recent downturn in tourism despite huge available inventory,” the body said.