Srinagar: A delegation of Gulmarg’s tourist guides and other key stakeholders met Apni Party’s Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir, on Saturday, to apprise him of the issues and complications arising from recent directives issued by the management of Cable Car Corporation.
Under the new guidelines, tourist guides accompanying visitors have been deprived of a free ride to the 2nd phase of the gondola (cable car) while they are providing their services to tourists. Moreover, ski guides and professional photographers are no longer entitled to free passes for their movements while providing tourist services at this world-famous ski resort.
According to a press release issued here, the delegation members, comprising tourist guides and other stakeholders, met Ghulam Hassan Mir and apprised him that the fresh directives by the management of Cable Car Corporation are causing tremendous hardships to them while they serve tourists, and eventually these new rules pose a significant threat to their livelihoods. They demanded that the previous system be restored, which allowed tourist guides a free ride to the 2nd phase of the gondola and provided passes to ski guides and photographers.
After patiently listening to the visiting delegation, Ghulam Hassan Mir, in his speech, said, “I am well aware of the problems that the tourist guides and other stakeholders are facing in Gulmarg due to the recent directives by the management Cable Car Corporation. In fact, Apni Party’s Chief Spokesperson, Javid Hassan Baig, vigorously raised this issue time and again in recent days. Moreover, our party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has raised this issue with the concerned authorities, who have assured him that this matter will be resolved to the satisfaction of the stakeholders in a couple of days. Therefore, I am sure that the previous system, which was accommodating to tourist guides, ski guides, photographers, and other stakeholders, will be restored soon.”
Ghulam Hassan Mir stated, “Tourist guides and other stakeholders are an integral part of the tourism industry, and the authorities are responsible for ensuring that no rules and regulations are implemented that cause problems for these vital stakeholders.”
