The Hotel Association of India (HAI), the apex representative body of India’s hospitality industry, has reiterated its commitment to supporting the Jammu & Kashmir government’s efforts to position the region as a year-round global tourism destination. The reaffirmation was made during a strategic meeting convened by the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Northern Regional Committee on Tourism and Hospitality, recently held in Srinagar. The high-level dialogue brought together key public and private sector stakeholders, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, to deliberate on actionable strategies for reviving and strengthening the state’s tourism landscape.
K.B. Kachru, President of HAI and Chairman – South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, lauded CII’s leadership in creating a collaborative forum that successfully aligned diverse stakeholders toward a unified goal of sustainable and inclusive tourism development in the region. In a separate discussion, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shared the government’s vision of transforming Jammu & Kashmir into a global tourist hub with year-round appeal. He emphasised the need to offer diverse and immersive experiences that attract travellers throughout all seasons. Kachru welcomed the government’s approach and assured full support from the hospitality industry.
HAI reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate on initiatives focused on enhancing tourism efficiency, promoting regional handlooms and handicrafts, and supporting the government’s broader socio-economic goals. Skill development was highlighted as a critical area where the hospitality industry could play a catalytic role, with HAI expressing readiness to partner in building a skilled, locally rooted workforce to meet the growing demands of the tourism sector.
Discussions during the meeting included strategic policy interventions, tourism performance reviews, capacity-building efforts, and the implementation of flagship schemes to foster sustainable hospitality growth across the region.
With several follow-up actions already underway, HAI emphasized that the hospitality industry stands united in advancing the government’s roadmap. The Association reaffirmed its long-term commitment to fostering inclusive, competitive, and globally benchmarked growth in Jammu & Kashmir’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.
