Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 23: Kashmir Tour and Travel Operators today alleged that non-local operators are involved in the bungling of chopper tickets to Holy Amarnath Cave and demanded a high level probe into the “scam” by country’s premier investigating agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Addressing a news conference here, the heads of various valley-based tour and travel operators accused non-local operators of selling chopper tickets in black market through their agents. “Through their agents, they sell these tickets to devotees and after selling them, they defame us by giving the notion that we sell tickets on high rates. But, it is we who sell tickets on nominal prices,” the operators said.
“This is a big nexus. There are two chopper companies who are primarily involved in this scam. They purchase the tickets online and with the help of their agents and then sell them to pilgrims. If any pilgrim want to buy the ticket online, he or she would not be able to do because all these tickets are purchased overnight by these operators. They have created the mafia.” the tour operators alleged
The local tour and travel operators, while seeking personal intervention of state’s Governor, NN Vohra, into the matter, said a CBI probe should be ordered to probe the “scam”.
They said if Government is not interested in probing the alleged scam, the local operators would not be part of the chopper service. “We appeal Government to create transparency into the chopper service or stop this service. We are not going to be part of this… we will reject the ticket quota that is being provided to us by Government,” the tour and travel operators said.
Those who were present on the occasion include heads of Travel Agent Society of Kashmir (TASK), Travel Agent Association of Kashmir (TAAK), Travel Agent Association of India (TAAI), Tourism Trade International Guild (TTIG), Jammu Kashmir Tourism Alliance (JKTA), Adventure Tour Operators of Kashmir (ATOK) and Association of Kashmir Tour Operators (AKTO). The press conference was organized by Nasir Shah.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel