The drive of the Delhi government’s tourism department to register tour operators and travel agents before the Commonwealth Games to ensure hassle-free stay and travel for the tourists has again been extended till September 30. The earlier deadline was June 30, which in turn had been extended from the previous deadline of March 29. The drive was initiated on January 28.
The postponement of the deadline has raised apprehensions that many tour operators and travel agents will manage to stay away from the legal ambit that would have ensured accountability on their part.
It is estimated that there are nearly 4,000 tour operators and travel agents in the city. While some are recognised by the Union tourism ministry, some others are affiliated to renowned travel bodies, but a large number are individual operators offering services without any accountability.
According to the tourism department, the second extension is due to some change in rules by the transport department. “The registrations need to be carried out as per the new guidelines and will take more time,” said a tourism department official, on the condition of anonymity.
Though refusing to elaborate on the nature of changes, the official added that all efforts would be made to complete the process in time. No official from the transport department could be contacted.
However, transport experts feel that the tourism department is delaying the drive under pressure from the travel operators, who want to continue operating without being bound by rules and regulations.
Earlier, many of them had argued that, since they had accreditation from the Union tourism ministry or travel associations, registration with the government was not required. But the Delhi government officials had maintained that registration was mandatory.