Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole

Srinagar, Oct 30: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole has directed all the concerned authorities to take concrete steps to stop the overcharging of tourists by the tourism players in the valley.

In a review meeting, Pole was updated about the tourists being overcharged by the hoteliers, houseboat owners, service providers and transporters at various tourist destinations, thus giving a bad name to the whole industry of the Valley.

According to the minutes of meeting of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, impressed upon all the concerned participants that concrete steps need to be taken to check this menace of overcharging which is giving bad name to the whole tourist industry of the Kashmir.

“It has been noticed that the tourists are being overcharged by the hoteliers, houseboat owners, service providers, transporters etcetera at the various tourist destinations of the valley including at Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg,” the minutes of the meeting reads.

Pole also enquired about the notification of the rates issued in this regard by the concerned deputy commissioners, director tourism Kashmir, chief executive officers of Tourism Development Authorities.

Pole directed that either the proposals for the rates in respect of the hotels and service providers shall be furnished by or before tomorrow evening or the rates shall be issued in respect of the tourist destination of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg under in intimation to the office, “so that the same can be published in government gazette.”

“Moreover, the rate list fixed shall be erected or displayed at the airport, TRC, Tax stands, hotels and at the Tourist destinations in adequate numbers for the convenience of the tourists,” Pole said.

He also said that the print and electronic publicity shall be given to the rate list.