AGRA: A day after reports that the number of foreign tourists at Agra has gone down drastically, a British couple 's agonized letter to UP tourism explains why we are turning away visitors.

In the letter, British citizen, Myra A Moyle, and her husband, who recently visited India, have written to UP tourism department sharing their harrowing experience at the hands of travel agents and hotel staff.

She wrote what hurt her the most was insensitive behaviour of the hotel staff who continuously made fun of her 59-year-old overweight husband, who walks with a stick.

“My husband is 59 and overweight and was walking with a stick. He received continuous abuse from staff of the hotel who thought it was funny. This unkindness upset my husband greatly as he is very conscious about his weight, and in turn upset me. I was very disappointed with the lack of empathy and awareness about problems that obese people have and far from helping them, they laughed and jeered,” she wrote in her complaint emailed to UP tourism.

“India is a marvelous, beautiful country and the experience we enjoyed were fantastic. However I feel that I must explain about the quality and standard of service that we received from all the accommodations stayed at during the holiday. I have to put the blame to the company that booked the hotels as we asked and were informed that we would receive three-four star accommodation,” she wrote, blaming a Mumbai-based travel agent who managed her trip.

“I believe that the service we experienced caused us distress and worry and affected the enjoyment of our holiday experience. This experience affected mine and my husband’s enjoyment on our holiday and did not offer us value for money or even a minimum service expected from paying Rs 2.73 lakh,” she wrote.

Moyle and her husband also faced a lot of trouble while using local transport. She alleged that they were provided poor car and guides who could barely speak English.

Narrating her harrowing experience of an overnight journey from Srinagar to Leh, she said the vehicle was stopped several times by the police and the driver was giving a lot of “backhand money to pass barricades”. “At one stop, police said the car we were travelling in was illegal. We were scared during the journey, I must be honest,” she said.

Moyle said such behaviour would hurt tourism interest, and sought proper training for the staff.

A UP tourism official said the department had forwarded the email to its Delhi and Mumbai offices for taking action in the matter.