Srinagar ,28-May; Amid tourist bloom in valley, drivers ferrying tourist for the past few months rued lack of space in the hotels alleging that the concerned authorities seems to have forgotten them.A delegation of drivers told that despite being the stakeholders in tourism sector of the valley they are given no space for stay while ferrying tourists from one place to other.“I recently dropped tourists at hotel during night hours and to my surprise i was clearly told that no space is available for drivers as hotel is fully booked. Hotels indeed have no arrangements but it clearly seems authorities have forgotten us too,” one of the drivers, Mohd Rafi said.They further that Kashmir’s tourist destinations are fully booked , which in not just helping the economy but also enhancing people to people contact but on the same time drivers both locals and non-locals are completely feeling aghast over the attitude of hotel owners for not keeping the space for drivers on priority.“I came along with tourist group from Gujarat before few days, on reaching hotel, I was completely rued of space and when I asked for blanket, Manger denied giving that too”, Sanjay one of the non- drivers added.While urging the concerned stakeholders including travel agencies and hoteliers to provide accommodation to drivers, they demanded steps from government too.(CNS)
