Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Aug 20 (IANS) The Mumbai terror attacks, the global financial meltdown and the swine flu scare have failed to deter foreign tourists from visiting Chandigarh in steadily increasing numbers, officials said Thursday.
“Despite so many worldwide deterrents, there has been a significant increase in the number of foreign tourists coming to Chandigarh. From January to July this year, more than 20,000 foreign tourists visited the city against 18,465 in the corresponding period last year,” said Vinod Kalia, deputy director tourism, here.

“In 2008, total of 34,762 foreign tourists come here whereas in 2007 only 26,567 had come. This year we are expecting to break all previous records.”

Foreign tourists have also expressed their liking for the union territory, which is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Hiroaki Tanaka, a web designer from Japan, said: “My first impression about Chandigarh is that it looks like America. This city is very near to Tokyo in respect of richness and humanity.”

“I like the wide roads and weather of this place very much. Besides, there are many prominent tourist spots in Chandigarh, and moreover this is the gateway to countless beautiful places in Himachal Pradesh. I have visited this place over 15 times in the last six years,” Steve Taylor, an Australian tourist, told IANS.

As far as domestic tourists are concerned, 522,000 tourists have visited Chandigarh in the first seven months of this year, almost the same as in the corresponding period last year.

In 2007, 928,000 domestic tourists came here but in 2008, this figure declined to 908,000.

Designed by legendary French architect Le Corbusier, the city boasts many acclaimed tourist destinations like Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, Rose Garden and the Museum and Art Gallery.