Cumbersome registration puts tourist to inconveniences
The cumbersome and lengthy process of filling registration form at Srinagar airport is putting the foreigners to lot of inconveniences.
Many foreign tour operators have expressed their resentment at the tedious process of registration for the foreigners at Srinagar airport.
In a complaint a tour operators from Singapore said the cumbersome process at Srinagar airport can prove detrimental for the growth of tourism in Kashmir.
In the complaint, Mohammad Afandi the owner of Afandi Travel and Services Pvt Ltd. says his group of 25 people had to face unpleasant situation at the Foreign Registration Counter at Srinagar airport.
“We suggest that the foreign registration should be kept at the houseboat or hotel as is prevalent in Ladakh,” says Afandi it the complaint.
Another foreign tour operator Abdul Rahim of TM Fouzy Travel Tour Pvt. Ltd complains of harassment that his group faced at Srinagar airport on arrival.
In the complaint, he even accuses the officials at Srinagar airport of demanding money during registration.
“Our passengers are facing lot of inconveniences and discomfort at Srinagar Airport by the foreign registration department staff at entry and exit points. They also demand money from our customers,” says the tour operator in the complaint.
The local travel agents also said they have to face embarrassment when their customers are made to sit in a beeline for hours.
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) J&K Chapter Chairman Abdul Khaliq Wangnoo said his foreign group had to wait for over an hour at Srinagar Airport for completing the registration process.
“Recently, I received a foreign group which had to wait for over an hour at Srinagar airport for cumbersome formalities. We had to cut a sorry figure and it only is a bad tourism promotion,” said Wangnoo.
He said this is only in Kashmir that foreigners are asked to go through such tedious processes.
“Foreginers visit many states in India but only in Kashmir they have to face such situation. They come in for a shock at Srinagar airport,” said Wangnoo.
President Travel Agents Society of Kashmir Muhmmad Ibrahim Siah said this is their long pending demand.
“Government instead of facilitating tourists is putting them to inconvenience,” said Siah.
Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah said admitted that foreigners are facing problems at Srinagar airport.
He said they have already taken up the matter with Foreign Registration Office and advised them that the process should be completed only during the flight.
“We also want the process should be simplified so that tourists don’t feel any inconvenience. Government should pitch in and set up a simpler process,” said Mahmood Shah.
