Organized racket to the detriment of the tourism. Review on Seagate Holiday Homes, Agatti, Lakshadweep

This Letter is intended to bring to your kind notice one of the reasons why the tourism industry in our beloved country suffers despite having all it takes to be regarded as one of the best tourism destinations in the world. Though this representation I intend bringing to your notice regarding an unprofessional Travel agent of the most pristine island of India Lakshadweep.

Mr. Abdul Salam the director of Lakshadweep holidays and M/s Seagate Holiday homes who in the guise of tour operator has been cheating various customers, and thereby ruining the reputation of the tourism industry more so in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

Here is my Experience with this Travel agent. After checking the advertisement in https://visitlakshadweep.com I had opted for the “swaying palms package” a holiday in Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep for 5 days for the period between 30/04/2017 to 06/05/2017. The package was all inclusive with ship travel, 3 Meals and accommodation for my family of 4 and he had quoted a sum of Rs.96, 017 which was transferred on 10th March, 2017 through wire transfer to his company account. Immediately he sent a mail on confirmation of receipt of the amount and the package.

Thereafter we immediately made our other booking like flight hotels to stay in Cochin. On 29th a day before our departure when I emailed him regarding the update, he immediately writes back to me that due to the reservation error made by him there was some problem to accommodate me and my family. However late night he assures me to give a different package for lesser days. Based on the assurance given by him my family and me travelled by air to Kochi. After this we come to know that he is not in Cochin and asks us to meet his friends in Lakshadweep Wharf and Passenger Facilitation Center. After this started our struggle with kids .We were made to run from pillar to post with repeated false assurances that tickets would be obtained.

The entire family consisting of small children was made to shuttle between different places like port, ticketing center and Airport for 3 days. After having undergone this traumatic experience we went back to Mangalore and sent him various messages indicating the reimbursement of Package cost along with the expenses incurred during our travel in Cochin like our travel to Cochin, Stay for 3 days, cancellation of hotel and train which was booked and our return journey. The total cost was a sum of Rs.1, 78, 233/- which included the Package cost of Rs.96, 017/-. In an e-mail dated 4th May, 2017 he indicated that he is travelling back on 5th May, 2017 and that the amount claimed will be settled. After this he neither picked our calls nor replied to our emails.

A further search regarding his prior conduct reveals that the incident in question is not a stray incident, but has been a habitual act where other customers have been similarly cheated.

https://mouthshut.com/product-reviews/Lakshadweep-reviews-925003630

https://mouthshut.com/review/Seagate-Holiday-Homes-Agatti-Lakshadweep-review-mulprossmlm

If we check these links we can see that he has collected money from lot of people in the pretext of booking package, and a day before he calls up and tells them their booking has a problem and does not repay the amount.

Surprisingly one of the company M/s Seagate Holiday homes of which Mr.Abdul Salam is a director, is an authorized travel agent, who is authorized by The Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports(SPORTS) which is a society formed by the Lakshadweep Administration in 1982 with the avowed aim of tapping tourism potential of the islands and to act as the nodal agency of Lakshadweep Administration for promotion of tourism in the islands. Mr. Abdul Salam and his company criminally conspire together so as to cause criminal breach of trust. He have been carrying on an organized racket to the detriment of the tourism industry.

My humble request to you is to take suitable action against such unscrupulous individuals and companies who are indulging in acts which are detrimental to the tourism industry of our country. Hoping for a favorable action in this regard.