Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 15: To discuss critical matters affecting the hospitality sector, a meeting of the Jammu Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Association (JHRBA) was held here today.
The meeting chaired by Raju Chowdhary, President of JHRBA and Managing Director of Hotel Taj Vivanta Jammu City Centre, covered a variety of issues with a particular focus on promoting Jammu as a premier destination for weddings.
Speaking on the occasion, Chowdhary highlighted Jammu’s immense potential to attract destination weddings, proposing that the city could offer wedding packages at just a quarter of the price compared to popular wedding destinations such as Jaipur and Udaipur.
“Jammu is uniquely positioned, with its close proximity to Mata Vaishno Devi, making it a spiritual and scenic destination for weddings. The government should promote Jammu as a ‘Blessed Wedding Destination,’ capitalizing on its cultural and religious significance,” he said.
In addition to discussions on wedding tourism, the meeting also addressed concerns regarding SGST and CGST reimbursement, particularly in relation to the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy.
Chowdhary emphasized the need for formal notification and clear guidelines on how these reimbursements could be claimed.
“While these incentives are mentioned in the policy, there is no clear path forward. A formal notification with proper guidelines is essential to ensure hoteliers can take full advantage of these incentives without facing roadblocks,” he added.
Another key issue discussed was the rising cost of power for the hospitality sector, which has become a major concern for hoteliers across Jammu.
With the increasing demand for electricity and the high operational costs, the JHRBA stressed the need for a more affordable and sustainable power tariff for the service sector, particularly hotels and restaurants.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for continued dialogue with the government to address these concerns and work together to create a more robust and transparent framework for the hospitality industry.
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