| After fee revision, Betaab valley received less tourists | | Exorbitant entry fee disappoints tourists | | Muhammad Mukaram
Early Times Report
Srinagar,Sept 30:The revision of ticket fares in tourist destinations has discouraged the visitors from entering these 'gated' tourist spots. Visitors especially locals complain that the higher ticket tariff to enter parks like Betaab Valley dampens their spirit to fully enjoy the scenic beauty of the tourist spot.
The tourist destination, which is maintained by Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA), witnessed massive construction from past few years, is situated in South Kashmir, some 88 kms from Srinagar.
The entry ticket to Betaab Valley, known for the location of Sunny Deol starrer Bollywood movie Betaab, costs Rs 100 per person, which the tourists say is quite high. The rate of the entry fee was recently, increased from Rs 15.
A tourist from Delhi, who is travelling to Kashmir for the first time with more than ten family members, says that he found the rate 'illogical'. "We already paid an entry tax while entering Pahalgam valley. We were not expecting further entry taxes," the Delhiite said adding that he did not move ahead towards Aru valley after they were asked to pay Rs 300 per person.
Another tourist, who is visiting the valley along with his family, says that its not the money which troubles them. "It is not that we do not want to pay. Now that we travel from across the country and spend lakhs of rupees to enjoy our holidays, we cannot say no at the entry gates of these tourist spots. However, its the feeling of being cheated which troubles us during our travel," Ajay, also from Delhi, shared with Early Times.
The locals also complain that the entry fare should have been less for local visitors. "Tourists as well as locals have to pay equal fare for the entry which is contrary to what the ideal case should have been," a local visitor shares.
Nisar, an employee with the ticket vending booth near Betaab valley, says that a lot of tourists are discouraged by the fee. "The footfall has decreased to a greater extent soon after the fares were revised," he points out.
While celebrating the "World Tourism Day" organized by Tourism Department on Sunday, Minister for R&B, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture, Altaf Bukhari said, "no stone will be left unturned for creation of world standard infrastructure and human resources, besides quality road connectivity to tourist destinations in the State."
Chief Minister, Mufti Syed who is keen to promote tourism sector and turn Kashmir valley as the 'best tourist destination in the world' has asked the authorities of Tourism Department to prepare a master plan of every tourist destination so that future infrastructure is developed in a planned manner that too without fiddling ecological and environment aspects of the area.
The development authority of Pahalgam, wants to create more parks in the tourist spot where each person will have to pay fees to enter the area. The move, according to business establishment owners, however, will not only fiddle with the area's fragile eco-system but, will further discourage tourist influx to the one of the most prominent destinations in Kashmir.
"There are already too many parks in the area, developed by several organsations, they mostly remain empty. The creation of more parks and fencing of the valley meadows will not only destroy the aesthetic beauty of Pahalgam, it will further discourage tourists, who only want to witness the wild beauty of the place," Niyaz Ahmad who owns a shop in the area said. |
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