Amidst concerns of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortages in some parts of the country, a prominent hospitality stakeholder in Kashmir on Tuesday assured that the valley is facing no such crisis, expressing optimism for a robust tourist season ahead.

Mushtaq Chaya, a well-known hotelier, stated that the supply of domestic cooking gas in the region remains stable and panic-free. "As of now, there is no panic-like situation when it comes to LPG cylinders; things are functioning absolutely smoothly," Mr. Chaya said.While acknowledging that the hospitality industry in other regions, including Rajasthan and South India, is grappling with supply disruptions, Mr. Chaya expressed confidence that Jammu and Kashmir would be insulated from the issue. "We are hopeful that we will not face any sort of issue related to LPG across Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of our Prime Minister and Chief Minister Umar Abdullah," he added.
With the valley gearing up to welcome spring, the hotelier highlighted the impending bloom in major tourist destinations. "The iconic Tulip Garden, Cherry Garden, and Badamwari are set to open soon," he noted, urging the administration to broadcast a welcoming message to potential visitors.

Mr. Chaya made a direct appeal to the central and local leadership to help revitalize the tourism sector, which he described as having faced a difficult previous year. "I appeal to our Prime Minister, LG, and Chief Minister to send a positive message out there and tell people to come back to Kashmir," he said. "We are hopeful that this year, especially this summer, is going to be really fruitful for all of us."