The recent surge in Covid-19 cases in India has impacted hotel bookings in Rajasthan, despite the latest strain being considered milder. According to industry experts, the tourism industry in Rajasthan, which contributes around 12-14% to the state’s economy and employs over 7.5 million people, is likely to be severely affected.
Gaurav Khandelwal, a travel agent, said, “The return of coronavirus is reducing the number of tourists in Rajasthan. There is a continuous decline in hotel bookings. In such a situation, the tourism industry could see the monsoon tourism season from July to September going underutilised.”
The next week will be crucial in determining Covid’s impact on tourism, according to Sanjay Kaushik, a tour operator and industry expert. Rajasthan has reported around 98 Covid-positive cases and one related death since January.
Source: Business Standard
Image Courtesy: Business Standard
