Srinagar, 3 August 2026 (Kashmir Crown): The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), under its Towards Accessible India initiative, organised the CII Consultative Roundtable on Inclusive Tourism & Hospitality at Taj Dal View, Srinagar, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, accessibility experts, entrepreneurs and disability advocates to deliberate on advancing accessible and inclusive tourism in Jammu & Kashmir, supported by Svayam.
Welcoming the participants, Mr Iqram Shafiee, Chairman, CII Jammu & Kashmir and Managing Director, Shafiee Healthcare, emphasized the importance of collective action among government, industry and civil society to build tourism destinations that are accessible, inclusive and welcoming for all. He noted that investing in accessibility enhances visitor experiences while opening new opportunities for economic participation and community development.
Setting the context for the discussions, Ms Sminu Jindal, Chairperson, CII National Committee on Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities & India Business and Disability Network (IBDN), and Managing Director, Jindal SAW Ltd., highlighted that accessibility must be viewed not merely as a compliance requirement but as a strategic business imperative. She underscored that universal design and inclusive infrastructure enable tourism destinations to serve a wider range of travellers, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens and families with young children, while strengthening India’s position as an inclusive global tourism destination.
Addressing the roundtable participants, Mr Mohd Iqbal Lone, Former Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Social Welfare Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, highlighted the critical role of enabling policies, institutional support and multi-stakeholder collaboration in creating an ecosystem that ensures equal access, dignity and meaningful participation for persons with disabilities.
A key highlight of the roundtable was the showcase of innovative accessibility solutions and assistive technologies designed to improve mobility, access and visitor experiences. Presentations were delivered by The Association of People with Disabilities (APD), Grailmaker Innovations and Wheel Ease Private Limited, who shared practical solutions and successful models for creating more accessible tourism and hospitality environments.
The deliberations also featured valuable insights from Mr Qazi Irfan (JKAS), Regional Transport Officer, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, who underlined the significance of incentivizing tour operators through ease of permits for adopting accessible practices.
Mr Farooq Ahmad Shah, Hon’ble MLA Gulmarg, emphasized the importance of integrating accessibility across the tourism sector, noting that accessible infrastructure and services are essential to making Jammu & Kashmir a truly inclusive destination for all visitors. He encouraged stakeholders to adopt accessibility as a key element of tourism development and visitor experience.
Representatives from the tourism and hospitality industry, government departments, civil society organisations and the disability inclusion ecosystem participated in the discussions. Deliberations focused on strengthening accessible infrastructure, inclusive transport systems, digital accessibility, universal design, capacity building for frontline staff and policy interventions required to create barrier-free tourism experiences.
Concluding the roundtable, Ms Sminu Jindal reaffirmed CII’s commitment to working closely with governments, industry and other stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of accessibility standards and embed inclusive practices across the tourism value chain.