Footfall down by 40%, Khajuraho pins hopes on polls for tourism business revival

BHOPAL: Lack of development has hit the tourism industry in Khajuraho . Locals at the UNESCO heritage site attribute the declining footfall of tourists to poor road, rail and air connectivity.

There are no direct flights to the international tourist destination. Travelling by roads is a nightmare and to make the matter worse, there are no trains from Mumbai or Kolkata.

The result: More than 40 % decline in foreign tourists thereby leading to job cuts in the hospitality industry.

Khajuraho tourism association spokesman Anshu Awasthi said, “Air India operates thrice a week and Jet airways stopped flying since last month. Foreign tourists are now left with no option but to undertake 13 to 17-hour journey at a stretch from Varanasi to Khajuraho by road.”

Because of the poor connectivity, Awasthi said, the international tourist operators have dropped Khajuraho from the itinerary. “ Tourists from America have stopped visiting here while there is a decline in people from Europe as well,” he said. “Till last year, the decline was about 35% which has not crossed 40% mark. Final figure will be released by the government by the month end,” he said.

Following the decline in the footfall, business of all the allied sectors from local shops selling souvenirs to small restaurant and medium and star hotels has declined.

Awasthi said, “The drop in hotel business has also led to job cuts. Hotels are now looking at new avenues like destination weddings to survive.”

Balbeer Gautam, a French-speaking guide and vice president of the Dharohar guides’ association said, “Few years back, I would have more than two groups of French tourists every day. Now, I hardly get two in a week.”

MP from Khajuraho Nagendra Singh who is now an MLA after contesting assembly election three months back admits that there was poor connectivity is affecting tourism industry. “When Jet Airways operates in Khajuraho, the fare are so high that it is cheaper to travel abroad than travelling from Delhi to Khajuraho,” he said.

“Though Jhansi-Khajuraho road work started some time back, it has not been completed so far. Work for Khajuraho-Banda in UP four-lane road is also underway but it is also yet to be completed,” he said.

Balbeer said there were many rounds of meetings with the politicians of all the parties but there was no result. Pranab Karamkar, general secretary of the guide association said, “We look with great hope from whosoever is winning to take up the issue actively to improve the situation.”