New tourism platform brings together J&K’s Travel, Trade and Hospitality leaders under one roof
Srinagar, October 14: In a landmark step for Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism industry, leading figures from travel, hospitality, and allied sectors have joined forces to establish the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism and Allied Business Forum (JKTABF) — a unified platform aimed at strengthening collaboration, promoting sustainable growth, and amplifying the region’s tourism potential.
The newly formed forum brings under one roof hoteliers, tour operators, transporters, event managers, and trade representatives from across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, marking a collective commitment to develop a cohesive and forward-looking tourism ecosystem.
During the launch ceremony, the forum announced its core leadership team and various subcommittees responsible for guiding its operations. Veteran hotelier Mushtaq Chaya was appointed as Chairman, with Mushtaq Burza and Gouhar Maqbool named Vice Chairmen.
Wahid Malik will serve as Secretary General, assisted by Manzoor Pakthoon as Joint Secretary. Aqib Chaya has been designated Treasurer, while Murad Kapra will serve as Joint Treasurer. The publicity and media affairs will be handled by Javid Burza and Nasir Shah.
The forum has also appointed Tariq Gani as Convenor and Sameer Baktoo as Co-Convenor to oversee coordination between member associations and drive tourism initiatives across the Union Territory.
An advisory panel comprising Dr. Jyotsna Suri (FICCI) and Omar Tramboo (Khyber Hotels) will guide strategic initiatives. Other advisors include Farooq Hafiz and Co-Advisor Rouf Tramboo, while the IT and digital media segment will be led by Hussain Khan and Tanvir Shah.
The Special Executive Committee features representatives from major industry bodies and leading hospitality institutions, including FICCI, Khyber Hotels, Taj Hotel Srinagar, CCIK, TASK, TAAK, Ecotourism Society, PLTOF, AKTO, TTIG, NTTA, ATOK, UTTA, and TAFOK, along with the regional chapters of TAAI, IATO, SKAL, ADTOI, and TAFI.
Representatives from Jammu, Katra, Patnitop, Drass, Kargil, and Leh also form part of the broader membership, reflecting the forum’s inclusive and region-wide approach.
To ensure focused efforts across domains, the forum has constituted multiple subcommittees on Travel and Tourism, Hospitality, Event Management, Roadshows and Marketing, General Trade, and Environment and Sustainability.
Speaking at the launch, forum members emphasized that JKTABF aims to become a common voice for all stakeholders, facilitating coordination between the private sector and the government while advocating for policies that enable long-term, sustainable growth.
The forum’s priority areas include the promotion of adventure and film tourism, digital marketing initiatives, eco-friendly tourism practices, lease renewals for hospitality projects, and enhanced connectivity to emerging destinations.
The establishment of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism and Allied Business Forum represents a milestone in bringing together diverse segments of the industry on one platform. It signals a collective resolve to reposition Jammu and Kashmir as a vibrant, globally competitive, and visitor-friendly destination.
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