Kashmir needs more 5-star hotels: TAAI Convention

If tourism needs to get a boost in the Kashmir valley, it needs to raise civic infrastructure and build institutional framework within tourism industry so that the benefits reach the local economy and help common people. “Limited number of five-star hotels in Kashmir is a lacuna that needs to be overcome. Kashmir needs more of them. What is the point of asking more airlines to fly to Srinagar when the starred hotel infrastructure is quite weak?,” said Kapil Kaul, CEO of New Delhi-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) India while addressing a session at the second day of the three-day convention of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI).

Kaul also said that lack of tourism infrastructure in the Valley has resulted in low job creation. “There needs to be creation of high-wage jobs in this industry so that more youngsters opt for a career in this field,” Kaul said. On the development of the Srinagar Airport, Kaul said its operating hours need to be increased in order to utilize full economic potential of this airport. Kaul is of the opinion that the airport should be functional from 6 am to 10 pm at least.