Agra:
City tourism industry has decided to approach UP chief minister Akhilesh
Yadav over the Agra Development Authority's (ADA) 'unilateral' proposal
to hike toll tax on Taj Mahal's ticket. They say there has been over
10% decrease in tourist's inflow to the Taj Mahal in 2014, and such an
'irrational' decision would drastically harm the business further.
The tourism body raised objection on the very issue of ADA's authority to seek a hike, as according to them they get just 2% as collection charge of the entire toll tax collected by sale of tickets.
Foreign visitors will have to shell out Rs 1,000 to enter the Taj Mahal if the state government gives the go-ahead to ADA's proposal. Domestic tourists, too, will need to pay a higher toll to enter the marble monument if ADA's demands are met. Visitors from across the country would have to pay Rs 50 as against the current entry fee of Rs 20.
"An emergency meeting of all the stakeholders of the tourism sector was called on Tuesday and we have collectively decided to approach the CM as well as the tourism ministry to see that ADA's proposal does not get through. This initiative is also against a 2001 Supreme Court's order directing the Archaeological Survey of India and the ADA to fix a reasonable charge for foreigners. Following that while reduced its fee by half and brought it to Rs 250, but ADA has not paid heed to it so far. Instead, it has been constantly trying to increase the tax," said Rajiv Tiwari, president, Federation of Travel Association of Agra.
Tourism leaders have also raised objection over the way ADA went ahead with the proposal without presenting the matter for discussion in the toll tax committee and seeking objections from the members. "Some of our association members are parts of this committee and they would have definitely objected to it, but nothing of that sort happened.
Ramesh Wadhwa, president, Hotel and Restaurant Association, said, "We will approach the Supreme Court once gain to challenge the decision, if it is implemented, but allow the new rates. It will further restrict the flow of budget tourists, Indian and foreigners, to the city. The hotel industry will suffer the most."
So far the ADA has not given a proper detail where the toll money has been spent for upgrading tourism facility. Instead, what we have observed that money is taken from this coffer and utilized in other sectors," Wadhwa added.
The tourism body raised objection on the very issue of ADA's authority to seek a hike, as according to them they get just 2% as collection charge of the entire toll tax collected by sale of tickets.
Foreign visitors will have to shell out Rs 1,000 to enter the Taj Mahal if the state government gives the go-ahead to ADA's proposal. Domestic tourists, too, will need to pay a higher toll to enter the marble monument if ADA's demands are met. Visitors from across the country would have to pay Rs 50 as against the current entry fee of Rs 20.
"An emergency meeting of all the stakeholders of the tourism sector was called on Tuesday and we have collectively decided to approach the CM as well as the tourism ministry to see that ADA's proposal does not get through. This initiative is also against a 2001 Supreme Court's order directing the Archaeological Survey of India and the ADA to fix a reasonable charge for foreigners. Following that while reduced its fee by half and brought it to Rs 250, but ADA has not paid heed to it so far. Instead, it has been constantly trying to increase the tax," said Rajiv Tiwari, president, Federation of Travel Association of Agra.
Tourism leaders have also raised objection over the way ADA went ahead with the proposal without presenting the matter for discussion in the toll tax committee and seeking objections from the members. "Some of our association members are parts of this committee and they would have definitely objected to it, but nothing of that sort happened.
Ramesh Wadhwa, president, Hotel and Restaurant Association, said, "We will approach the Supreme Court once gain to challenge the decision, if it is implemented, but allow the new rates. It will further restrict the flow of budget tourists, Indian and foreigners, to the city. The hotel industry will suffer the most."
So far the ADA has not given a proper detail where the toll money has been spent for upgrading tourism facility. Instead, what we have observed that money is taken from this coffer and utilized in other sectors," Wadhwa added.
0 comments:
Post a Comment