Jammu, Feb 5: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the House that the Government is revising and simplifying registration and renewal procedures for tourism-related establishments in Jammu and Kashmir. The move covers Guest Houses, Hotels, Homestays, Travel Agencies, Adventure Tour Operators, and other units, with processes now carried out online under the Public Services Guarantee Act, ensuring approvals within 30 days.

The existing tourism registration rules, framed in 1978, are being updated to make the system more transparent, user-friendly, and time-bound, reducing procedural delays and enabling self-declaration and deemed approvals where permissions are automatically granted if not issued in time. The revised guidelines will cover the entire tourism ecosystem, including Hotels, Homestays, Shikaras, Houseboats, Taxis, and Buses.
Omar Abdullah also highlighted efforts to reopen tourist areas closed after the Pahalgam attack and stressed the sector’s role in generating employment and promoting entrepreneurship through events, festivals, and outsourcing of tourism assets. Simplified guidelines for Homestay registration aim to encourage community participation, particularly in rural and border areas, ensuring inclusive tourism development.
Supplementary questions were raised by MLAs including Ali Mohammad Sagar, Altaf Ahmed Kalloo, Nazir Ahmed Khan, and others.