Charging registered local tourist guides for accompanying visitors on gondolas in Gulmarg is a bad policy
Gulmarg Tourist Guides’ Appeal to Chief Minister
“We are a group of 25 local youth, earning our livelihood by working as tourist guides here at Gulmarg for past over six years. The previous government had accorded a concession to us that we were not charged any money by the Gulmarg Gondola. However, of late some people have been pressing the authorities at Gondola to charge Rs 300 in lieu of each ride from us. Given that we hardly manage to make Rs 300 a day while working as tourist guides, we are in no position to may this money. Those pressing for this measure are doing so with the sole aim of earning a bad name to your government by creating a wedge between the government and the unemployed people. We are therefore requesting you for a similar concession as was given by the previous government.
It is also brought into your notice that Tourist Department had conducted our interviews some months back so as to regularize us as licensed guides. However, so far nothing seems to have moved in this regard. We, there, appeal you to kindly look into the matter personally so that we are given proper licenses to work as tourist guides.
Local Tourist Guide Association,
Gulmarg”
(Kashmir Images)