Srinagar, May 26: The tourism traders today flayed the Gulmarg ponywallas accusing them of spoiling the tourism industry for their “own interest.”
 The traders appealed the government to rein in the ponywallas in the interest of overall tourism industry.
 Pertinently, due to the strike by the ponywallas Gulmarg remained closed for the tourists on Friday. The ponywallas are demanding that no tourist vehicles be allowed at Botpathri from Gulmarg bus stand.

TAAK says
 President, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, Rauf Tramboo said: “It is sad to see that Gulmarg remained closed for tourists. The strike call given by the ponywallas has forced the tourists to return half way from Gulmarg.”
 “We won’t tolerate hooliganism and the strike call given by ponywalas at tourist destination of Gulmarg. It can have bad impact on our tourism industry which was witnessing some sort of revival with the hard efforts put by the department of tourism and the tourist players,” Tramboo said, adding the frequent strikes at tourist destinations are sending wrong message outside.
 Tramboo demanded that the government should check the “monopoly by the ponywallas and deal with them seriously.” 
 “Gulmarg is a small place to cater to the huge rush. There was need of expanding the area for tourists in Gulmarg. Bottapatri being very close to the main Gulmarg could be very useful for our tourism expansion. It may not be possible for ponywallas to take the day tourists to Bottapatri in shortest possible time.” Tramboo said. 

JKTA states
 The J&K Tourism Alliance has criticized the ponywalls for “creating problem for the tourism season.”
  “The unwarranted inconvenience caused to tourists yesterday and today at Gulmarg by a group of ponywallas is not at all acceptable to the Tourism players of Kashmir.”
 “We are much saddened by the strike of ponywallas, it has become their routine to create problems and we want them to shun this path of agitation and don’t harm the tourism season,” a JKTA  statement said.
 “We would also like to hail the role of Directorate of tourism for tackling the situation in positive manner,” it said.
TASK expresses
 Travel Agents Society of Kashmir today expressed their resentment against the strike of ponywallas and asked them to refrain from such acts in future.
 “It is wrong on the part of ponywallas to block the road during the ongoing tourism season. They can solve their issues by holding talks with the officials. We strongly condemn their act and ask them to desist from doing such acts in future,” President TASK, Muhammad Ibrahim Siah said.
 “Our tourism fraternity suffered losses due to strike by these people and it is not good for our trade,” he said.
 Meanwhile, secretary TASK Muhammad Rafiq Siah also condemned the strike of ponywallas at Gulmarg and asked them to call of their strike, so that the tourists don’t feel any inconvenience.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 IST