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| War scare keeping tourists away | |
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There is a feeling that the west is overreacting to the situation on the border, well aware that there is not much possibility of an Indo-Pak conflict.
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Besides the mass exodus of foreigners, many airlines have stopped night halts for their crews. Airline crews comprised a major chunk of business for many hotels like the Radisson and others. Air France and Virgin personnel who used to stay at five-star hotels have reportedly stopped their night halts. What’s added to the panic in the industry is the fact that the already lean occupancy levels during the summer months are down to just about 40 per cent while some hotels are even grappling with an abysmal 20 per cent. On June 1, for instance, the mass exodus of foreign guests—corporates, long-staying visitors and other in-bound travellers—left a gaping hole in the business. But more than the present scenario, what the hotels fear even more is a ripple effect hitting business in the coming two to three months, even if there is no war. But on the other hand, some of the South-Asian nations like Korea and Japan have not panicked as they feel the chances of a war are not high. The same is true of Turkey, South Africa, Qatar, Norway and Thailand. There is a feeling that the West is over-reacting to the situation on the border, well aware that there is not much possibility of an Indo-Pakistan conflict. But the top executives of leading MNC brands are taking the tense situation in their stride. Unless things really take a turn for the worse, they have no plans to leave. Meanwhile, tourism agencies in the capital are busy in marketing and packaging Delhi as a tourist destination. The Delhi Tourism and Travel Development Corporation (DTTDC) is taking the lead in the matter. DTTDC has recently constituted a 30-member advisory committee to give travel in Delhi a boost. Comprising ‘distinguished persons from the travel and tourism industry, related sectors, former senior officers of the Ministry of Tourism, State functionaries with specialised understanding in the field of tourism and other eminent persons,’ Delhi Tourism plans include publicity through the Internet, use of information technology—help line/call centres, tourist wardens, meet and assist services, better taxis at the airports, handy audio reach kit (HARK), photo identity cards for tourists, computer kiosks with WLL phones, mini-India Heritage complex, CDs on Delhi monuments, a 52-episode serial on Delhi and organising of fairs and festivals. The effort is to present Delhi as an attractive destination even at nights. The revamping steps also include walkways for pedestrians in main shopping centres, promotion of children and youth tourism, beautification of tourist places and monuments with proper lighting and security arrangements. In spite of Hemant Passy’s daughter pursuing a course in ceramics at the Melbourne University, he and his family were denied visas by the Australian High Commission here. "It is rather absurd because the notice at the High Commission clearly stated that people who have close links in Australia would be considered for visas. But still we were denied on the grounds that the visit was not deemed an emergency and we could wait." He adds: "They have advised us to lodge an application with the Australian embassy in either Bangkok or Colombo." Passy, who is a practising doctor, had made all arrangements for his Australian jaunt, including hotel reservations. He had even rescheduled his appointments and operations in Delhi. However, he does not plan to send his papers to either Colombo or Bangkok since, "firstly, there is no guarantee that they will give us visas and, secondly, there is no time limit. It could take weeks. I can’t wait so long. By the time we get the visa from Bangkok or Colombo, my daughter’s vacations would be over, then we’d hardly be able to spend time together." When the Australian mission in Delhi was contacted, an official said, "We’re not giving visas to Indians because of the current situation between the two South Asian nuclear powers. Visas are being given only in extreme situations like death." When asked whether visas were stopped because of the fear of Indians fleeing to Australia in the event of a war, the official said, "I cannot comment on that. It is our Government policy to stop giving visas." Says immigration consultant, Sachin, who assists students in getting admission in U. K. colleges, "This move will surely affect hundreds of students seeking admission to universities abroad . Every year, around 5,000 students from Delhi apply for visas, but only 1,500 are able to make it to universities abroad. This number will surely come down. It is bad for the students’ morale. | |
The
worst hit is the tourism industry. Hotels in Delhi and other major
tourist spots are faced with empty rooms. Domestic as well as foreign
tourists are avoiding travel, unsure of the direction the current
tension on the Indo-Pakistan border will take. What has made matters
worse is the advisory to their nationals by major countries like the
U. S. A., U. K., Australia, New Zealand and others not to travel to
India and asking those already in India to take the next flight out of
the country. Similarly, the evacuation of families of diplomatic staff
has spread alarm.