Overcharging mars tourists’ experience
Though promotion of tourism is very close to the hearts of the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, tourist spots across Punjab have become centres of extortion where black marketing of everything is a norm owing to the negligence of the authorities.
Social media is flooded with posts showing rude the behaviour of traders in Murree. The famous tourist destination of northern Punjab, Patriyata, which was earlier popular among visitors for its magnificent scenery, pleasant climate and chair lift, has now become a black-marketers’ haven, the visitors allege.
Sharing his bad experience at Patriyata Chair Lifts, a visitor Muhammad Asif told The Express Tribune that overcharging starts from parking of vehicles and continues till the tourist leaves the place. “The Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) has clearly displayed parking rates of Rs150 for coaster and bus, Rs100 for van and jeep, Rs70 for car and Rs30 for motorcycle but the parking contractors are charging more than double the rates from tourists. Employees of the parking contractor overcharge consumers by imposing the charge fixed for coasters from car drivers,” he claimed.
Bashir said employees of the parking contractor rudely told the tourists the tariff displayed at the entrance of the parking lot is old and the local corporation has increased the rates after the coronavirus lockdown. At the main entrance of chair lift, the security staff force the visitors to buy face masks, allegedly in connivance with TDCP officials.
Another visitor, AD Tahir, complained that black marketing of chair lift is also done openly near ticket window. Dozens of agents are available to offer visitors hassle free access, without waiting in long queues. Tuck shops have set their own tariffs for snacks and meals but nobody is available to address complaints against private contractors, he added.
Similarly, Surkhel Ezad, who recently traveled to Khanpur Dam, also complained about exorbitantly high tariffs and overcharging by contractors. He pointed out that for merely a boat ride, contractors asked for Rs4,000 to Rs6,000. He complained that the facilities for tourists were also insufficient. The visitor said better facilities can be availed at the same price in other areas of the country and abroad.
A resident of Dera Ghazi Khan, Tariq Ismail, highlighted that Fort Munroe, which also known as the Murree of South Punjab, has a huge tourism potential but it lacks basic facilities. Even during the peak season, it is hard to find water.
Exploitation of the tanker mafia is at its peak and citizens have to buy water for Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 for keep their businesses running. It also negatively impacts tariffs of everything for tourists.
TDCP Patriyata Chair Lift Manager Ejaz Butt told The Express Tribune that several local groups at the hill station are operating like mafias. The corporation has mentioned tariffs everywhere but problems still exist. “There were large scale revenue leakages at Patriyata but through automation we are trying to improve things. We have already served notice to a parking contractor over public complaints but the problem still persists. I will request the senior management to retender the parking contract to resolve such complaints,” he underlined.
Punjab Chief Minister’s Adviser on Tourism Asif Mehmood said Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar is aware of these problems and the government is trying to fix these chronic problems. He highlighted that with the help of ticketing automation the revenue of Patriyata has doubled. It never earned over Rs25 million in past but from past couple of months after ticketing automation its revenue has surpassed Rs50 million a month. “There is a huge room for improvement if we successfully plug all such leakages and improve infrastructure,” he maintained. Mehmood pointed out that the government has already allocated funds to solve the water shortage problem at Fort Munroe. “We believe that without improving infrastructure and plugging loopholes it would be impossible to promote the tourism sector and tap this huge potential,” he underscored.
He also indicated that he would launch an inquiry into overcharging at tourist spots and take action against black marketing of tourist services.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2020.