Srinagar, Oct 12: The ongoing protest of service providers in Gulmarg entered its fifth day on Thursday, causing inconvenience to tourists and service interruptions in the scenic area.
The protest stems from a recent order mandating service providers to pay a compulsory fee of approximately 1000 rupees to access the second phase of the Gondola Gulmarg.
Service providers, including guides, sledge and ski operators, have opposed this directive, arguing that they have already been paying monthly fees for their services. They assert that the new order disrupts their financial stability and places an additional burden on tourists.
Tariq Ahmad Khan, President of the Guide Association Gulmarg, told Rising Kashmir that the order creates financial strain on tourists.
“Most of the tourists are already paying 700-800 rupees for various services. How can they afford an additional 900 rupees per day to visit Afarwat? The promise made in 1998 to allocate 10-20 per cent of these fees for the development of the area seems to be unfulfilled,” he said.
He questioned the unfulfilled promises of allocating a portion of the fees for area development. He said the ongoing protests have left tourists without necessary services, creating difficulties during their visits.
A tourist from Mumbai expressed the challenges faced by visitors, urging authorities to resolve the issue promptly. He noted that tourists are experiencing communication issues at higher altitudes due to a lack of mobile network connectivity.
Manzoor Ahmad, President of the Snowmobile Association Kashmir, said that service providers cannot afford the 1000-rupee fee, which exceeds their earnings. He pointed out the irony of providers being accused of polluting the area despite their efforts to maintain Gulmarg’s cleanliness.
Efforts to obtain comments from higher officials proved unsuccessful as they were unavailable for comment. The ongoing protest has disrupted services and inconvenienced both tourists and service providers, with no immediate resolution in sight.
