Maharashtra tourism is a casualty of coronavirus

Mumbai, March 11 In what is attributed as the direct fallout of Covid-19 concerns, top tourist destinations and UNESCO World Heritage sites in Maharashtra have witnessed a sharp decline in tourism, especially foreigners, industry players said here on Wednesday.

Most foreign tourists are deserting the top sites such as Ajanta & Ellora in Aurangabad, the Elephanta Isles in Raigad district off Mumbai in the Arabian Sea and the one of the most photographed monuments in the country, the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

Trek-Or-Trail Co-Founder Tushar Asher admitted that his company has seen "practically 100 per cent cancellations or indefinite postponing of various domestic and international tours since December."

"The tourism and hospitality industry is in doldrums… Smaller tour operators are worst hit, as also the big ones. The situation does not appear rosy with more Covid-19 cases being detected around the country. We are forced to cancel the entire tour packages with flights, hotels and sightseeing," a worried Asher told .

Ditto are the sentiments of Heena Tours & Travels owner Jitendra Shah who specializes in international group tours who feels "people are unnecessarily panicky".

"While my bookings to Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh are largely unaffected, the scenario on international tours is gloomy. Due to 'postponements', my estimate is more than 75 per cent hit is taken by the industry," Shah informed .

Aurangabad, considered the 'tourism capital' of Maharashtra, has witnessed a sharp drop, as high as 95 per cent in the past few three-four months of foreign tourist arrivals, with hoteliers, taxis, buses, private vehicles and other stakeholders virtually idling their time.

Travel Agents Association of Aurangabad

( With inputs from IANS )