Tourism has traditionally been a major contributor to the economy of J&K, as it is brimming with world-renowned destinations, scenic spots and cultural hubs. Today, the industry constitutes 7% of the UT’s GDP, retaining its position as a consistent benefactor of economy. It plays a crucial role in uplifting hospitality, transport, food and retail industries, which employ around 11 lakh people. Since it is semi-structured and labour-intensive, the employment benefits percolate to rural communities who are solely dependent on tourism for their livelihood.Being a core sector, the industry demands a huge focus towards growth. This leads us to think about improvisations that can be incorporated to boost tourism. As this sector is not highly organised, there is a huge scope of interventions, especially technology-based, to improve operational efficiency and customer experiences. The topic can be contemplated from the perspective of a tourist, a tourism- related business and the Government.

As a Tourist, travel planning and booking is mostly being conducted online today. There is ample potential........

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