LAHORE: Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) on Thursday, 18 October hiked fares for the Sightseeing Lahore Bus Service, which will go in effect from November 1.
According to the revised fares, Gaddafi Stadium to the Greater Iqbal Park route the tourists fares has been increased from Rs.200 to Rs.300, the corporate sector from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 and educational institutions from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7, 500.
The Gaddafi to Wagah Border fares have been increased from Rs300 to Rs400 for tourists, from Rs20,000 to 25,000 for the corporate sector and Rs7,500 to Rs,10,000 for educational institutions.
Fares for students have been increased from Rs150 to Rs200; however, the service will be offered to senior citizens and the handicapped free of cost.
Sources told Holiday Weekly that the Sightseeing Lahore Bus Service by TDCP was a new and popular trend of tourism in the city. It is a good source entertainment and tourism facility for cheaper rates provided to the middle and lower middle classes. Above all it was a good source of city tourism; however, with the fares going high, the department feared a negative impact on improving tourism trend in the city.
They expressed distress over the increasing rates and said that now tourism was also becoming expensive for the common man.
TDCP spokesperson informed that the fares had been rationalised as there was an increase in the prices of diesel and other services. “This will not affect tourism,” he said.