Hundreds of thousands of tourists have cancelled trips to the Taj Mahal in December. Domestic political unrest is hitting India's tourism sector hard.

The violent protests against India's proposed citizenship law, which negatively discriminates against Muslim immigrants, have coincided with the tourism industry's economically important high season.

Over the last two weeks, approximately 200,000 visitors are estimated to have cancelled or postponed trips to the Taj Mahal mausoleum, one of the country's most popular destinations, located in the protest-stricken state of Uttar Pradesh.

”The number of visitors has dropped by 60 percent in December this year,” says Dinesh Kumar of the local tourist police.

The Taj Mahal normally attracts 6.5 million tourists every year, generating 130 million kronor in entrance fees. Hoteliers are now reporting a sharp increase in cancellations, at a time when the country's growth is already at a six-year low.

The state of Assam, which attracts visitors with rhinoceros safaris among other things, normally notes half a million visits every December.

”But now, due to protests and travel advisories from various countries, that number has decreased by 90 percent,” says Jayanta Malla Baruah, who heads the local tourism industry association.

Several countries – including the USA, the UK, and Israel – have issued travel advisories, urging their citizens to avoid visiting troubled areas in India.

Source: TT