Airlines Reservations Desk: What is your nationality?
Sample This:You: Hello, I want to book a ticket for two on Flight XYZ, on Date -xx-xx-xxxx.
Airline Ticketing Agent(ATA): Sure Sir. May i ask what is the nationality of passengers?
You: How does it matter, pls book two tickets. We are flying within india, on the same flight and date.
ATA: Sir, it matters. Foreign Nationals are charged a different rate than Indian nationals.
You: Oh.. really? But why do you do that?
ATA: We are simply following the rules as per prescribed norms by govt. If we don't we may be punished.
Same is the case - for Hotel Reservations.
Same is the case - for entry fee to Taj Mahal (and a host of such places).
Foreign Nationals are charged a different rate (much higher) in Airlines, Hotel, and Tourism industry.
WHY?
This is the law/policy perscribed by govt. So Airlines, Hotels, and the Taj Majal entry staff are simply following what they have been told to.
What a shame. Why does this kind of silly crap exist? This hurts Tourism greatly. Tourists are not fools - they notice such buffoonry and do not like it (been told this by a guest actually).
WHY Such Archaic discriminatory policy exists? ONLY because - nobody - babu's/neta's/their chamcha's gives a damn about being fair, promoting tourism industry, and ensuring that we enjoy a good name among visitors. (4 million visitors to India, in a year in which 16 million visited Malaysia).
Recently there was a proposal actually to do away with this Stupid Crap. But, it was never taken to its logical conclusion - probably it got lost in the mud of more important things like Reservations in Higher Education, Garibi Hatao (of neta's?) Yojana and more.
It is important that Policy Makers are efficient, merit driven individuals - who can think beyond the obvious. Such Policies are a direct reflection of the rot existing at important Policy Making Positions.
This thread of discussion started from here: Robbing foreign tourists
posted by Apun Ka Desh @ 3:05 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Hi Buddy
hope you keeping well, yeah its true government of India charge unfairly. Why the hell tourist suppose to pay more? its sort of discrimination. One side you try to promote tourism and on other side you robbing them. Just think if UK or anyother country start charging, what will reaction of Indian? Government should do more to shut down this sort of discrimination.
Yeh apun ka desh hai aur apun ka desh woh desh hai jis desh main chori hoti hai. Did you not read the headlines two days ago proclaiming that India was the highest bribe giver. That is a robbery of a diffeerent kind. Form does not matter.
i guess it has to do with subsidy.. most meuseums, parks and places charges a paltry sum of 5-10/- foreign nationals can definately afford to pay a dollar or so more
Nice observation and a good post...
Hi Buddy
Just came to check updates. no worrie swill boune back
@Hiren I do appreciate this sort of survey, but I would like to see new survey which says who are biggest bribe takers. Then only it will be fair, as some people give bribe with out asking but most of people pay bribe becuase people asked them to pay some thing extra for any lucrative deals.
That practice is common to most countries. It seems unfair but it is an established system which provides revanue. If you go to that foreign country of your tourist friend you will face the same treatment.
Siyah>
Its not true that greater foreign exchange can be earned in this fashion. This is actually Penny Wise and Pound Foolish.
We will earn much greater foreign exchange when greater number of people want to holiday in India. China,Malaysia, Thailand... all have several times the number of tourists visiting them every year.
I agree - "It is important that Policy Makers are efficient, merit driven individuals - who can think beyond the obvious." But it is a tall order on small-stature, personal-interest drivn policy makers of India.
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