Frisking at Cheshmashahi, foreign registration at Sgr airport should go
Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) has voiced concern over the direct bookings made by online travel portal affecting local travel agents and tour operators.
In a recent meeting with Principal Secretary Tourism Sandip Nayak, a delegation of TAAK discussed various issues confronting tourism sector in the Valley. TAAK delegation was represented by Vice President Malik Hamidullah Bazaz, Secretary General Farooq A Kuthoo, Former President Peerzada Faiyaz, Finance Secretary Habibullah Pandaw, chief organizer Showkat Ahmed, Publicity Secretary Irfan Mir besides EC Members A A Tantray, G N Dharma, former secretary general Ashfaq Siddiq Dug.
TAAK also raised the concern over the touting and harassment meted out to the travelers especially foreigners at the Srinagar airport.
TAAK urged Principal Secretary Tourism to do away with the registration of foreign arrivals at the airport.
“We also informed Principal Secretary Tourism that drivers resort to touting at Srinagar airport which should be curbed. Tourists should be welcomed warmly at airport but instead the drivers are out there to snatch the tourists and heckle with them,” said Farooq Kuthoo, Secretary General TAAK.
TAAK also informed that the tourism department should do away with the airport passes which are also hassle for tour operators.
“How can a tour operator get an airport pass if he gets booking late evening? This has also led to corruption and is a hassle for tour operators,” said Kuthoo.
TAAK also informed the Principal Secretary that some hotels are mostly providing business to outside travel agents and the online portals which has affected the business of local travel agents.
“Hotels should be asked to get business from local travel agents besides there has to be some cap on bookings made by online portals. These online portals invest huge amount of money which is not possible for local tour operators,” said TAAK.
TAAK also pointed out unnecessary harassment meted out to tourists heading towards places like Chesmashahi and Shankaracharya where the security forces asks them to board down the vehicle for frisking.
“We fail to understand why tourists are asked to get down the vehicle at tourists places. Tourist should be welcomed not frisked. This sends a wrong signal to travellers,” said TAAK Secretary General.
The mushroom growth of travel agents and tour operators has also been taken up with the principal secretary. TAAK said tourism department should allow registration after proper scrutiny of the candidate who has an extensive experience in tourism sector and is well-versed to handle tourists.
TAAK said tourism is a very fragile product which cannot be given in the hands of non-professionals.
“Handling tourists needs care and proper understanding of the hospitality sector and local landscape, culture, heritage, art and craft. It can’t be given in the hands of opportunists who just want to do business but in the hands of those who can promote tourism with ethics. Tourism department in collaboration with local experts should interview the right candidates before granting registration,” said TAAK.
TAAK said department of tourism Kashmir had previously issued notice against 240 travel agents who had not renewed the licenses. “The travel agents have not responded to the notices which show their non-seriousness. The registration of such agents should be cancelled,” demanded TAAK.
Past President Peerzada Faiyaz said TAAK urged Principal Secretary Tourism to organize FAM tour for leading media persons and travel writers and also sensitize local media about tourism promotional write ups.
“We have to tap media industry which can play pivotal role in reviving tourism. They can by themselves see how tourists are safe here and also write about the breathtaking tourists destinations,” said Faiyaz.
Faiyaz said TAAK also reiterated its demand of compensation to the travel agents for the losses they suffered in the September -2014 floods.
