Stop Cheating Tourists
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Stop Cheating Tourists

At famous scenic resorts in Kashmir, tourists are often duped by some hoteliers, shopkeepers, local business vendors, etc for their vested interests

Post by on Monday, August 16, 2021

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SPOT LIGHT 
 
 
Kashmir is famous all over the world for its scenic beauty and natural landscape. Through out the year this bowl valley remains thronged by visitors from outside, in almost all the seasons. However, majority of the tourists prefer to visit this beautiful valley only during summer months because during this season the hustle and bustle here remains at its climax. Tourists who are fed up with the scorching heat outside J&K, believe that Kashmir valley is a cool treat and solace to their troubled minds. The cool breeze and the fresh air soothes their aching nerves. In this season everything looks dazzling. It appears, as if, the sun and the clouds are full of joy. All things here, especially at famous tourist attractions like Srinagar, Ladakh, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Phalgam, etc., shine out with gushing picturesque. Magnificent lush green forests, crystal clean waters, exquisite mountains, etc at these places are quite tempting. Though this is a good sign for all of us as it promotes tourism industry here, yet, it never means that these tourists who come from different parts of the country and abroad, get cheated. Deceitfulness makes them carry a bad image of us with them, and they then decide never to visit Kashmir again which is a big obstruction in boosting tourism sector.
  
These tourists, travelers or sightseers come to Kashmir for pleasure as they have heard of Kashmir’s beauty a lot. They believe in exploring different scenic places, so they prefer to visit them. They capture photos and shoot videos to be cherished as a memory for time to come. But alas! They in turn get either cheated or looted here by some Kashmiris with whom they come in deal at different sites. From the very spot where they are picked up by the tourist-guides until their return journey, they have to bear the brunt of deceitfulness on part of go local business men. Profit in business is no doubt good but it never means that these outside-visitors are wholly and solely be cheated just for vested interests. And this illegal means of earning never pays one off in the long run. The more these tourists are decently behaved and honestly dealt with, the more are the chances for the tourism sector in Kashmir to get sponsored.
 
Kashmir is famed for its hospitality and generosity all over the world as well. But from some time past, some miscreants seem to make it notorious especially at the health resorts by swindling these visitors. History stand eyewitness that these tourists were even looted by the locals. The incident of 2015 when two German tourists namely Ritt Sirgfried and Brunner Walburga were robbed of their belongings, including passports, cash and two digital costly cameras in a houseboat in Srinagar which they had put up; always comes to mind when tourists are seen tricked by the locals. Such incidents not only tarnish our image in the outside world but also weaken the very flow of these visitors to the valley.
 
 
 
Srinagar is the hub of tourism because from here these tourists get spread towards different parts of the valley. Here almost all the hotels and houseboats remain full by these tourists for their stay during prime tourist season. But if these hoteliers, houseboat owners and other local business establishments keep on becoming more and more expensive for these vacationers then the day is not far when we will witness not a single tourist around. We must sell them things at the genuine rates not at exorbitant price. Literally, there is no fixed rate list being adopted by these hoteliers, houseboat owners or local vendors anywhere. Everyone is doing business according to his own free will. And every situation is taken full advantage of. Whatsoever comes to the mind becomes the rate for these outsiders. And the show is silently watched by all of us.
 
 
When hundred of coaching centers can be raided surprisingly and taught lessons, why these expensive hoteliers and houseboat owners can’t be taken to task? When a simple cup of tea costs more than 50 rupees, a simple Biryani packet costs more than 200 rupees, a room at a hotel or houseboat fetches money in thousands and a simple 10 rupees Maggie packet gets prepared in more than 100 rupees, it seems that cheating is done.
 
In Gulmarg tourists are taken far a ride easily. Be it a horse ride, bicycle on rent or the gondola ride, everything is double the price. Same is the case with hotels and shopkeepers here. For a gondola ride, agents who allure the tourists, get a separate commission. Their duty is to bring them in the trap and then leave. Hotels have gone costlier and apart from very high rates of the shopkeepers, even the local vendors do not leave any stone unturned to trick these tourists.
 
Last month, when I happened to visit Gulmarg; I, just outside the gondola ticket-collection counter, saw myself two tourists, hailed from Agra, been duped by a local tea-seller. For a simple cup of tea, he made both the tourists to pay Rs.100 and left by. While taking tea, I heard both the tourists saying that this type of business is simply cheating. The trend is just the same elsewhere too, be that Phalgam, Sonamarg, etc. From morning till evening, everyone at these tourist resorts is hell-bent on misleading these tourists.  
 
In order to stop all this and uphold the sector of tourism, J&K LG Government must keep a strict vigil on all those shopkeepers, hoteliers, vendors, etc who cheat these visitors by selling them essential items on double the price. Such miscreants who dupe these outsiders must be punished so that others never dare to do so. A good number of flying-squads from the tourism department should be kept on duty 24/7 in civil dress to bring these cheaters to the fore.
      
Before seeking entry at any tourist attraction, these tourists-shoppers must be given emergency helpline numbers and provided rate-list of all such essential items which are sold there. Govt. at every spot, must keep a separate grievance-cell for these tourists so that everything goes on in a fantastic manner. When thousand of government employees can be made accountable enough towards their duties, why can’t this small chunk of lawless hoteliers, shopkeepers and vendors doing business at these often-visited-places be tightened in the clutches of authority. These tourists ought to be treated so sympathetically and lovingly that they love to visit us again and again. 
 
 
 
(Manzoor Akash is Rafiabad based Rising Kashmir Columnist and the author of recently published book, “The Legacy of Light”. He can be mailed at:manzurakash@yahoo.co.in)
 

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