Firangs and NRIs, shaken by suicide blasts in Pakistan and the 26/11 terror attack anniversary, are apprehensive of visiting India this month

Terrorists may have struck across the border in Pakistan's garrison city of Rawalpindi, but its tremors have been felt across India.

The spate of serial blasts in Lahore, Rawalpindi and the upcoming 26/11 terror attacks anniversary combined together have cast their shadow on India's winter tourist season.

Tour operators fear that if this continues, India could well and truly kiss its booming tourism industry goodbye.
"There is a fear psychosis among tourists, forcing them to think twice before visiting India.

We might see a drop in inbound tourism by five per cent this November," said Rajinder Rai, president of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI).

Rai added that the advisory issued by the US Consulate (see box), asking its citizens to avoid visiting India, had added to their woes.

Terror Checks In: Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a police checkpoint in Lahore yesterday, wounding seven people.

Slashed fares

As reported by MiD DAY (September 21, 'Rooms in hotels at 2003 rates'), the fall in hotel room tariffs in Mumbai and New Delhi had made the cities more attractive to international visitors and inbound travellers.

However, the recent blast outside the Indian Embassy in Pakistan and the series of blasts outside luxury hotels in the neighbhouring country have deterred tourists from coming to India.

"Non-Resident Indians too are reluctant to come to India owing to rumors of terror attacks in India again this month.

The blasts in Pakistan and 26/11 anniversary in the same month are merely a coincidence, but that's more than enough to create apprehensions among tourists," said Iqbal Mulla, chairman of Treasure Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd, Andheri.

Time to move on

The 26/11 terror attacks were aimed at foreigners and popular tourist spots in south Mumbai were the prime target.
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Armed terrorists attacked two five-star hotels, Taj Mahal Palace and Towers and the Trident, and a famous eatery frequented by foreigners in Colaba.

Pradip Lulla, president of Travel Agents Federation of India, echoed Rai's sentiments. "This (26/11) is a day to forget and not to be remembered.

We are hoping that there are no substantial cancellations and decrease in tourist arrivals," he said.

US travel advisory

Following the unraveling of a new terror plot directed against India, the US consulate, on October 30 issued a travel advisory to its citizens travelling to India.

The advisory said that the incident (26/11) "provided a vivid reminder that hotels and other public places are especially attractive targets for terrorist groups", It urged US citizens "to practice good security, maintain a heightened situational awareness and a low profile.
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Americans are advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites, or choosing hotels, restaurants,u00a0 and recreation venues."

Pak's bloody trail

Nov 2: Blast at a police roadblock in Lahore injures 7
Nov 2: Suicide bomber kills 35 near Rawalpindi Bank
Oct 28: Blast in a Peshawar market, 50 dead
Oct 23: Suicide bomber kills 7 in NWFP
Oct 23: Blast kills 17 on a bus carrying a wedding party
Oct 23: Bomb near Peshawar restaurant, 15 injured
Oct 10: 14 dead in attack on Pak army's headquarters
Aug 30: Blast near Swat Valley police station, 3 dead
Aug 23: Suicide bomber injures 5 in Swat Valley
July 29: Blast kills 2 in Dera Ismail Khan
July 2: Suicide bomber kills six in Rawalpindi
March 3: Terrorists attack Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore

3.25 lakh
Number of foreign visitors India lost due to the terror attacks

28
Number of foreign nationals killed in the 26/11 attacks

26
Number of foreign nationals injured in the terror attacks

4
Number of Americans killed in the 26/11 terror attacks

Terror Checks In: Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a police checkpoint in Lahore yesterday, wounding seven people.