Srinagar, Aug 3: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), under its Towards Accessible India initiative, on Monday organised a consultative roundtable on Inclusive Tourism and Hospitality in Srinagar to promote accessible and barrier-free tourism across Jammu and Kashmir.
Held at Taj Dal View with support from Svayam, the roundtable brought together policymakers, industry leaders, accessibility experts, entrepreneurs and disability advocates to discuss measures for making tourism more inclusive for persons with disabilities and other travellers with accessibility needs.
Welcoming the participants, Iqram Shafiee, Chairman, CII Jammu & Kashmir and Managing Director of Shafiee Healthcare, stressed the need for collaboration between the government, industry and civil society to create tourism destinations that are accessible, inclusive and welcoming for all.
Sminu Jindal, Chairperson of the CII National Committee on Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and India Business and Disability Network (IBDN), said accessibility should be viewed as a strategic business imperative rather than merely a compliance requirement. She highlighted that universal design and inclusive infrastructure can enhance tourism while benefiting persons with disabilities, senior citizens and families with young children.
Former Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Mohd Iqbal Lone, underscored the importance of enabling policies, institutional support and multi-stakeholder collaboration in ensuring equal access and dignity for persons with disabilities.
The roundtable also showcased innovative accessibility solutions and assistive technologies presented by the Association of People with Disabilities (APD), Grailmaker Innovations and Wheel Ease Private Limited.
Among the speakers, Qazi Irfan (JKAS), Regional Transport Officer, advocated incentives for tour operators adopting accessible practices, while Gulmarg MLA Farooq Ahmad Shah called for integrating accessibility into tourism infrastructure and services to make Jammu and Kashmir a truly inclusive destination.
The discussions focused on strengthening accessible infrastructure, inclusive transport, digital accessibility, universal design, capacity building for frontline staff and policy measures to create barrier-free tourism experiences across the Union Territory.
Concluding the event, Sminu Jindal reiterated CII’s commitment to working with governments and industry stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of accessibility standards and inclusive practices throughout the tourism sector.
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