Heat hits tourism in Agra (With Image)
May 28th, 2012 - 7:04 pm ICT by IANSAgra, May 28 (IANS) Searing summer heat has hit tourist inflow into Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, India’s biggest tourist draw.
Tourist arrivals have been sliding in the last 10 days with the temperature rising to 46 degrees Celsius Sunday, said a representative of a hotels association.
“The forecast is not good for the next week or 10 days. Temperature could shoot up to 47 or even 48 degrees,” said Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association.
The Taj is getting fewer visitors.
“The number of domestic tourists has not fallen so drastically but one sees fewer foreign visitors,” said Taj Mahal caretaker Munnazzar Ali.
Gopalakrishnan, a tourist from Madurai in Tamil Nadu, said: “It’s so difficult to walk in the sun. Everyone has to carry water bottles.”
Owners of hotels near the Taj Mahal complained of poor business.
“It’s a lean season, so we don’t get Western tourists at this time of the year,” said hotelier Sandip Arora.
For the convenience of tourists, the authorities recently started a special air-conditioned bus that takes tourists around monuments.
“The heritage bus is indeed a good idea. It’s comfortable,” said Magan Bhai, a tourist from Udaipur in Rajasthan.
- Agra schools close for two days as mercury dips - Jan 03, 2011
- Agra promises a better deal for tourists - Aug 07, 2011
- Agra heat fails to deter tourists - Jun 21, 2010
- Taj city shivers at four degrees - Dec 16, 2011
- Taj on full moon night leaves visitors awestruck - Oct 13, 2011
- Agra despairs over Western advisory - Oct 26, 2011
- Soon, fly into Taj city from global destinations - Aug 25, 2011
- Agra battles stray dogs - Jan 22, 2012
- Rains lash Uttar Pradesh, Yamuna fills up - Aug 06, 2011
- Heavy rains lash Agra - Jul 28, 2011
- Khajuraho to get train from Thursday - Mar 15, 2012
- Taj tourists shiver as chilly winds return - Jan 16, 2011
- Agra tourism industry looks forward to Air India connection - May 30, 2011
- At last! Decks cleared for international flights in Agra - Oct 09, 2011
- Taj city fogged out, commuters hit - Jan 05, 2012
Tags: agra hotels, arora, caretaker, degrees celsius, domestic tourists, gopalakrishnan, hotelier, lean season, madurai, poor business, restaurants association, sandip, summer heat, taj mahal, taj mahal india, tourist arrivals, tourist inflow, udaipur, water bottles, western tourists