KASHMIR NEWS
MUZAFFARABAD: In an effort to revive slowing tourism, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Hotels and Guesthouses Action Committee announced on Tuesday that room charges across the region will be lowered by 20 percent.
Speaking to the press, Chairman Raja Mohammad Ilyas urged the AJK government to formally designate the territory as a tourism-friendly zone and introduce special incentives for both hotel operators and visitors. Such measures, he argued, would help reenergize a sector that once served as a major employment provider in the region.
Ilyas explained that hotels and guesthouses have been struggling to survive after being repeatedly affected by natural disasters, the high cost of utilities, inflation, and the broader economic slowdown. He said the decision to reduce room tariffs was intended to offer immediate relief to travelers: “A room that used to cost Rs1,000 will now be offered at Rs800,” he said.
The chairman noted that tourism in popular destinations such as Muzaffarabad and Neelum has nearly collapsed in recent months due to persistent rains, flooding, and insufficient government backing. He lamented that no financial compensation or aid had been provided to businesses impacted by these hardships.
Commenting on the recent cut in electricity rates following public pressure, Ilyas praised the role played by the JAAC and stressed that the benefits should ultimately reach ordinary citizens rather than remaining limited to commercial entities.
Read more: https://nayakashmir.com/bjp-working-to-keep-indian-muslims-suppressed-says-juh-chief/
