Parvaiz Wani CNI

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to intervene in resolving challenges faced by local tour and travel operators due to the current online booking system for Gondola tickets. In a detailed communication to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, KCCI highlighted serious concerns affecting local tourism stakeholders, citing business losses and unfair competition from non-local agencies.

The Chamber noted that while 3,500 to 4,000 tickets are issued daily, local travel agents struggle to secure allocations even when booking in advance. Meanwhile, non-local agencies allegedly enjoy preferential access, putting local businesses at a disadvantage.

KCCI pointed out significant operational flaws in the online booking system, including frequent portal crashes during peak hours and an inefficient Tatkal quota that sells out within minutes. The Chamber also raised concerns about potential collusion between Gondola personnel and online ticketing platforms.

Calling for immediate intervention, KCCI has urged the Cyber Police to investigate IP addresses involved in mass bookings to detect unfair practices. It has also demanded a comprehensive review of the booking system to ensure fair access for all, with priority given to local tour operators.

The Chamber emphasised that government action is essential to protecting the integrity of Kashmir’s tourism industry and supporting businesses that are key to the region’s economy.