Foreign nationals have stopped planning stays in Delhi, say travel agents (Representative Image) | Photo Credit: BCCL

New Delhi: The inflow of foreign tourists into Delhi has fallen by 25-30 per cent due to the national capital’s deteriorating air quality. Going by reports, the drop in footfall can be attributed to travel advisories issued by UK, US and Mexico governments among other countries to their citizens. In the last couple of weeks, the air quality in NCR has been shuttling between 'severe' and 'very severe'.

Travel operators claim that the NCR's air quality has affected tourism across the golden triangle, a personal favourite of foreign tourists, which comprises of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. In fact, they also believe that domestic tourists are trying equally hard to avoid the national capital.

Earlier this year, members of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) held a meeting to address the issue and concluded that air pollution has affected tourist footfall in Delhi-NCR. Most foreign nationals land in Delhi and leave for hill stations almost instantly, said one travel agent adding that this has led to a spike in hill station tourism in India.

At present, the Supreme Court and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) along with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have enforced a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi. As part of this plan, measures such as artificial water vapours and bans on open dumping and burning of waste are being put into place to battle the deteriorating air quality. In addition, brick kilns, stone crushers and hot mix plants have also been ordered to halt operations. All construction activities also stand banned in Delhi.

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