February 11: The tourism sector in Agra thrives on tourists at Taj Mahal which is currently put on hold as the international travel yet requires a nod by the centre to begin again. The International tourism services were suspended in the previous year and were supposed to begin operations in last week of February, however, the ministries decided to stay the travel amid the pandemic situation prevailing in the country.
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry was planning to begin the operations but later on extended the ban given the situation. Due to the suspended travel in the country, the tourism sector is still expecting the travel to begin in order to improve the tourism situation in the state and the tourism spot.
As the government officials have shared while speaking to a business portal, the normal international flights are expected to resume in around April-June 2021.
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Sharing his take over the issue, a restaurant owner in the city Nishar Khan quoted, “Tourists coming from abroad majorly give a boost to the tourism industry here. Now that everything is reopening gradually international flights should reopen so that we are able to earn our livelihood like before.”
A guide at Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Fukran Ali said, “Tourism industry has been affected drastically due to COVID-19 pandemic and farmers’ agitation. Even domestic clients are not visiting here. Taj Mahal has reopened but tourists are still not visiting as they used to earlier.”