JAMMU: As part of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir's ongoing efforts to develop an inclusive and practical Tourism Policy, the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu organized a stakeholder consultation session on Thursday.

The meeting brought together a diverse range of voices from the tourism sector to contribute to the formulation of a forward-looking and implementation-driven policy.

The session was chaired by the Director of Tourism, Jammu, Vikas Gupta and attended by key departmental officials, including the Joint Director Tourism and Deputy Director, Publicity.

The meeting saw active participation from representatives of prominent industry associations such as the Hotel, Bar & Restaurant Association of Jammu, All Jammu Hotel & Lodges Association, Travel Agent Association of Jammu, Homestay Association of Jammu, Jammu Adventure Sport Association, Jammu Association of Tour Operators, Association of Domestic Tour Operators, Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Stakeholder Association, Tourism & Cultural Heritage Society, and the Association of Jammu Travel Agents.

During the discussion, the stakeholders emphasized the need for a tourism policy that is practical, implementation-focused, and rooted in responsible and sustainable tourism. There was a strong demand for a streamlined single-window clearance mechanism, along with well-defined licensing, registration, and renewal processes. Concerns were also raised about the lack of incentives and the need to formally include tour and travel operators in the policy framework.

The initiative to hold this consultation was widely appreciated by participants, who acknowledged it as both timely and necessary. They expressed gratitude to the Directorate of Tourism for facilitating open and constructive dialogue.

The session concluded with a consensus on the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships and introducing transparent mechanisms to prevent monopolistic practices and ensure fairness across the tourism ecosystem. Similar stakeholder consultations will be held in Bhaderwah, Patnitop, Katra and other districts of the Jammu division to ensure inclusive representation across the region.