Foreign tourists visiting Delhi have dwindled by an estimated 20 to 30 percent due to rising pollution levels reports The Times of India on Wednesday, 12 December, citing travel agencies and tour operators.
According to the report, the increase in pollution levels and the smog has led to rescheduling and cancellation of foreign tourists’ trip to Delhi as they were being rerouted to hill stations instead.
Speaking to the national daily on the issue, Rajan Sehgal, Chairman, Public Relations of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) said Delhi is one of the world’s favourite travel destinations yet we have observed a constant dip in foreign tourists visiting the capital.
“On an average, a foreign tourist spends three-four nights in Delhi, but at present, they are either not coming to Delhi or spending just one night here. There are also very few new reservations. We have observed a dip of at least 25-30% this season.”Rajan Sehgal, Chairman, Public Relations of TAAI
Sehgal also said that during a recent meeting of TAAI, it was resolved that the situation of Delhi’s air quality will be taken up with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change if losses incurred by the travel industry lingered on.
Another person from the industry said Foreign Tourist Arrival in the ‘Golden Triangle tourist circuit – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur’ which is highest between mid-October to March has been low this year due to Delhi’s air pollution problem.
In 2017, a report submitted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, which is one of the apex trade associations of India said domestic tourism is also likely to be affected. The report which was based on discussions with 350 tour operators, predicted that “Delhi is bound to drop off from the map of international tourists”.
Delhi’s tourist footfall during winters has been low since 2016 and has further dipped in 2018, The Times of India reported.
‘Severe’ Pollution Levels in Delhi
Although media reports have suggested that Delhi’s pollution levels are lower compared to last year, they remain in the ‘severe’ bracket.
Between 10 to 12 December, weather reports have also suggested that thick haze has engulfed Delhi as air quality in the national capital remained 'severe'. The Central Pollution Control Board or CPCB recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 413 on Wedneday.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.
The AQI on 10 December was recorded at 412 and on 11 December it stood at 415.
The Supreme Court also expressed its concerns regarding Delhi’s pollution levels, “We are spending more on treating people than preventing it (air pollution)", said the Bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta on 10 December as it directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to upload on its website the studies undertaken on the adverse impact of deteriorating air pollution on health and economy. .
(With inputs from The Times of India and IANS)
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