Editorial:-Fleecing Tourists, Revision Of Tourist Service Rates
After taking due cognizance of the reports of fleecing and exploiting the tourists, the divisional administration instructed the concerned officers to fix the rates and display the sign boards at every tourist destination of mentioning the rates of the services offered. While there were reports of overcharging and exploitation by transporters, Shikara wallas, Pony wallas and more importantly hoteliers. The tourism department Kashmir also conducted a meeting to revive the rates and has asked all the stakeholders to come forward in stabilizing the rates of tourism products so that the prospective visitors do not get the feeling that they have been overcharged or under facilitated. He sought cooperation from all tourism players in this regard. However the tourism department has maintained that few more rounds of consultation are required to formulate the tariff for the hotels. The rates of the hotels is must to be seen as many travel agencies in the valley have been saying that the hoteliers charge the customers on the higher side and they say there is a much need to draw a tariff which should look like a customer is being overcharged.