Surge pricing troubles tourists to Araku

Visakhapatnam: Tourists visiting the picturesque Araku valley are now facing the brunt of surge pricing especially on weekends when attempting to book cabs from Vizag to the agency area and also finding accommodation in private hotels at Araku.
According to tourists visiting Araku, private hotels in the Agency area and cabs offering services to take visitors on a day-long return trip are charging nearly double the price during weekends.
According to sources, around 25 private hotels have been constructed in and around Araku during the last few years.
Majority of tourists visit the agency area during the months of October to January owing to the cold climate in the area. "During week days, rooms are available between Rs 500 and Rs 750 per night. But the same rooms cost around Rs 1,000-1,500 per night on weekends," complained a tour operator, who has had to bear the brunt of increased rates.
"Customers coming from different parts ask us why the rates are different from what is being shown on websites due to which they don't want to come back. If we want to promote tourism, then such surge pricing should be controlled," he added.
At the same time, another hotelier from the city said even cabs are charging higher fares during weekends. "The cabs charge around Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000 for a one-day trip to Araku and back on weekdays. The charges are more than Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 on weekends. They take tourists to the same places on weekends as they do on weekdays, but the rates are higher and there is nobody to complain to about it," said Debasis Mohanty, who recently visited Vizag on a holiday.
Social activist Srinivas Ganjivarapu said it is the failure of the state tourism department in reaping the benefits of the tourist flow into the region. He said, "The government and tourism department should cash in on the steady flow of tourists from Odisha and West Bengal by providing proper information and facilities Unless the details of the rates are put out in the open, tourists will face trouble of paying higher rates."