Hope never dies

The Indian government is pushing to lift restrictions so that jobs and businesses can resume in the battered tourism sector as it is reopening its famed marvel of love, the Taj Mahal, and several other monuments as the number of new coronavirus infections continues to decline (“Taj Mahal reopens for tourists as India eases COVID-19 curbs,” Gulf Today, June 17).

The city of Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located, reported 10 new infections on Tuesday, down from a peak of 500 a day in April.

Initially, some 650 tourists with online bookings will be allowed a day to visit the white marble Taj Mahal from Wednesday. Temperatures will be checked at the gates, face masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed.

The number of jobs in travel and tourism in India fell nearly 21% last year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. “Unless international tourism starts, the tourism industry here won’t survive,” said Ramesh Wadhwa, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association in Agra. Britain, Canada, the United States and France are among the dozens of countries that have restricted travel to and from India.

Cases have declined in recent weeks, with several major cities including New Delhi and Mumbai easing many restrictions.

Furthermore, Kerala, one of the worst-hit states, will allow public transport to resume while Madhya Pradesh in central India permitted shopping malls and gyms to reopen.

Shankar Shukla
By email