TAAK demands cap on bookings by travel portals

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 12:  Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) has voiced concern over the direct bookings made by online travel portal affecting local travel agents and tour operators.
In a recent meeting with Principal Secretary Tourism Sandip Nayak, TAAK members discussed various issues confronting tourism sector in the Valley. TAAK informed the Principal Secretary that some hotels are mostly providing business to outside travel agents and the online portals which have affected the business of local travel agents.
TAAK urged Principal Secretary Tourism to do away with the registration of foreign arrivals at the airport. “We also informed Principal Secretary Tourism that drivers resort to touting at Srinagar airport which should be curbed. Tourists should be welcomed warmly at airport but instead the drivers are out there to snatch the tourists and heckle with tourists,” said Kuthoo, general secretary of TAAK, Farooq Kuthoo.
He said the TAAK also raised the concern over the touting and harassment meted out to the travelers especially foreigners at the Srinagar airport. TAAK urged Principal Secretary Tourism to do away with the registration of foreign arrivals at the airport.
“We also informed Principal Secretary Tourism that drivers resort to touting at Srinagar airport which should be curbed. Tourists should be welcomed warmly at airport but instead the drivers are out there to snatch the tourists and heckle with tourists,” said Farooq Kuthoo, Secretary General TAAK..
He said the TAAK also informed that the tourism department should do away with the airport passes which are also hassle for tour operators.  “How can a tour operator get an airport pass if he gets booking late evening? This has also led to corruption and is a hassle for tour operators,” said Kuthoo.
TAAK also pointed out unnecessary harassment meted out to tourists heading towards places like Chesmashahi and Shankaracharya where the security forces asks them to board down the vehicle for frisking.

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