Khatana slams NC Govt for tourism neglect, assures support to trekking sector
Visits Sonamarg, interacts with trekking bodies, urges bureaucratic reforms
STATE TIMES NEWS
SONAMARG: Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJP leader Er. Ghulam Ali Khatana strongly criticized the National Conference government for its failure to promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in iconic destinations such as Sonamarg, Pahalgam, and other trekking circuits.
Speaking at a large public gathering organized by President of BJP NGO Cell J&K, Khatana highlighted the distress faced by local youth who had taken bank loans to invest in tourism-related infrastructure.
“After the Pahalgam terror incident, tourist arrivals dropped drastically, and now these youth are struggling to repay their bank instalments,” he said.
Various trekking associations met the BJP leader and apprised him of the growing concerns around permission restrictions at popular trekking routes including Thajiwas Glacier, Naranag, Great Lakes Trek, and Zero Point Trek. They shared that many of them had taken advance bookings from international tourists and invested in equipment but were now facing severe operational challenges.
Khatana assured the stakeholders that their issues would be raised at the appropriate forums. “I am here to take firsthand feedback on the state of tourism infrastructure, the law and order situation, and to hear the voice of the last person in the queue,” he said.
He appealed to tourists from across the country and abroad to visit Kashmir and enjoy its unique hospitality and natural beauty. “There is no comparison to the charm of Kashmir. It is safe, welcoming, and unmatched in beauty,” he added.
During his two-day visit, Khatana engaged in multiple activities including the flag-off of sanitation drives, inspection of trekking exhibitions, press briefings, and interactions with over a dozen tourism and trekking associations.
He also criticized certain bureaucratic attitudes, stating, “Some officials still operate in a pre-Article 370 abrogation mindset. Files are being shuffled from table to table while people’s issues remain pending. Such inefficiency will not be tolerated.” Prominent personalities who accompanied the BJP MP included Dr. Ali (senior BJP leader), Faraz Ahmed Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmed (President, Snow Bike & Tour Guide Association), Riaz Ahmed, Mukhtyar Bilal (CEO, Sonamarg Development Authority), Dr. Nazir Ahmed (Administration, Kangan) and several other officials and local stakeholders.
Khatana urged the J&K administration to address genuine public grievances with dedication and to extend full support to the tourism and trekking sectors-seen as vital lifelines for Kashmir’s youth and others.
