Srinagar, Oct 09: Apni Party’s senior Leader and Chief Spokesperson, Javid Hassan Baig on Monday called for an exemption in gondola (cable car) ride fares for tourist guides in Gulmarg while they accompany visitors. He voiced his concerns about the recent guidelines which impose the burden of gondola ticket costs on tourist guides even when they are accompanying tourists to the upper reaches of this sky resort.
In a statement, he said, “As per the official rates, a tourist guide is authorised to charge a maximum of Rs 990 from an individual tourist or a group of tourists for guiding services at this globally celebrated destination. But at the same time, in accordance with the new regulations instituted by the tourism department, a tourist guide is mandated to pay an amount of Rs 1010 for his gondola tickets while accompanying tourists.”
Baig questioned the practicality of this arrangement and said, “Given that a tourist guide earns just up to Rs 990 a day for guiding tourists, how can he afford to spend Rs 1010 on the gondola ticket for himself?”
He added, “The economic benefits of the current peace and thriving tourism should also extend to the underprivileged members of society, especially those hailing from various tourist destinations. Tourist guides are an integral part of the tourism industry, and the government must ensure that these individuals who work as guides receive fair compensation for their hard work. Therefore, they must be exempted from purchasing gondola tickets when accompanying tourists.”
The Apni Party spokesperson appealed to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to intervene to ensure that these tourist guides are no longer required to pay for gondola tickets. “We appreciate the people-friendly initiatives by the LG administration, particularly LG Manoj Sinha Ji’s recent announcement in which he assured that the government would support those who cannot afford to pay their power bills. I request that he look into the matter of tourist guides in Gulmarg who are being charged for the Gandola, as they accompany the tourists,” he said.
