KCCI offers various packages to Amarnath pilgrims

Srinagar, May 7 (UNI) The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has offered various packages to yatris undertaking two-month- long pilgrimage to holy shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir, starting from June 18.

The president of the KCCI Dr Mubeen Shah said the Chamber would endeavour for launching a publicity campaign to offer various packages to the intending pilgrims.

However, he wanted the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) to allot suitable sites in Pahalgam and Baltal camping centres for displaying the world famous Kashmiri crafts and their sales.

He said since affluent sections of the pilgrims were coming from various parts of the country during the pilgrimage, their stay could be prolonged for siteseeing of various tourist places in the Valley. Dr Shah said business establishments dealing with hotels, handicrafts, lodges, and all those connected with tourism trade had many stakes with the yatra and they wanted to play a useful role during the pilgrimage, which would give a big boost to economic activity in the Valley.

He said issues pertaining to benefits of the yatra to local businessmen and the people, ecology and environment, registration of Amarnath pilgrims and helicopter services were raised with the SASB.

The President of the Chamber Dr Shah said these aspects of the pilgrimage were not known to the business community in general and KCCI will create an awareness campaign about the economic aspects of the yatra among its members.

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