Jammu, Jan 28 (PTI) Demanding early steps to develop Jammu and its surroundings as an independent tourist destination, All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association (AJHLA) today submitted a representation to J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. "We emphasise on taking early steps to make Jammu city and its surroundings independent tourist destination," president of AJHLA Inderjeet Khajuria today said. Towards this end all the tourism related projects in and around Jammu city should be taken up at a fast speed, AJHLA demanded. In a representation submitted to the Chief Minister, the hoteliers association demanded that all the benefits, concessions and incentives made available to the manufacturing industry should be extended to the tourism industry. Khajuria rued that although eco tourism was declared as industry as back as in 1995, yet the benefits available to other industry have not been extended to the tourism related ventures in this state. Although VAT has been exempted on room rents in the hotels, but the same is charged at a heavy rate of 12.5 per cent on catering in the hotels, he said, adding the association has demanded exemption of VAT on catering also in the hotels. AJHLA also urged to take effective steps to develop border tourism circuit on the international border belt in Jammu, linking Sochet Garh border post with Chamlayl. It has demanded that Sochet Garh border post be developed as tourist destination on the lines of Wagah border in Amritsar.
