Srinagar, July 9,2025: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired the Board meetings of Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) and J&K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), following the recent reconstitution of both Boards with the Chief Minister as Chairman.
Chairing the 19th SKICC Board meeting at SKICC Srinagar, the Chief Minister called for strategic marketing, full utilization of infrastructure, and building a distinct MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) brand identity for SKICC.
“SKICC must emerge as a leading venue for corporate and government events. Its under-utilization is a concern, and we must minimize idle days by targeting event planners, corporates, and agencies,” Omar said.
He emphasized better revenue generation, recovery of outstanding dues, and optimal use of available human resources. The meeting reviewed past board decisions, audit findings, reconciliation with AG’s office, and HR matters, including the absorption of Centaur Hotel staff after its outsourcing to Leela Palace & JSW Realty.
This was the first SKICC Board meeting since November 2020.
JKTDC: Visibility, Monitoring, and Market Access
In the 95th Board meeting of JKTDC, CM Omar stressed enhancing visibility and services of JKTDC hotels and guesthouses to attract more tourists. He directed the installation of smart meters at all properties to curb misuse and improve monitoring.
“Every property should be marketed aggressively, especially premium rooms, through Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs). Develop a dedicated JKTDC app for better digital presence and accessibility,” he directed.
The CM called for improving the overnight stay potential of huts in remote tourist areas and urged adoption of private sector best practices to enhance functioning.
Key points discussed included:
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Onboarding OTAs for online marketing and bookings
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Asset audit to identify gaps and improve efficiency
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Reimbursement of dues from departments
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Revising rentals of accommodations allotted to departments
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Settlement of pending dues of retired officials
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Review of previous board decisions
The meetings were attended by Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, ACS to CM Dheeraj Gupta, administrative secretaries of Finance, Tourism, Industries, DG Planning, Director Tourism, MD JKTDC, and other senior officials.
