Covid and lockdown flattens tourism

The world famous Khajuraho temples, which used to see a stream of visitors before Covid outbreak, now wear a deserted look since the lockdown, which has also crippled the once thriving local hospitality and tourism industries. Around 2,500 rooms in 50-odd hotels in the town, including three five-star facilities, are lying almost empty. Many small hotel owners are unable to pay salaries to their staff. They are jobles. Only 15 to 20 per cent of the total workforce is currently employed, that too with about 50 per cent pay cuts.Onwners are looking at hotel bookings for weddings to meet the expanses.  

Covid pandemic has hit the tourism sector badly. Though the lockdown has been lifted but limited train services and discontinue of international flights are discouraging tourists to go out.Domestic tourists are reaching at some tourists places by their own arrangements. The impact of Covid is so bad that it left people vulnerable for their daily expanses.Almost every tourist places are nearly deserted, from tourist hotspots to hotels and restaurant. The world renowned tourist destination Khajuraho and orchha in Madhya Pradesh, is no exception to this. The historical cities which are widely known to be one of the best hosts to international tourists in the nation are succumbed into a deafening silence. Because of the safety measures all international and national travels were banned by the administration. With the flights being halted there came a series of cancellation of bookings which in turn brought despair.Majority of hotel operators believe that it will take two years for their revenues to return to pre-COVID levels. The people  who were the most affected by the pandemic are still suffering and there is very little hope in near future. 

Tourist visits had started falling sharply even before the national lockdown as international travelers to Khajuraho and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh, were hugely from foreign countries like Italy, Spain, the UK, Germany, South Korea  France and Canada were severly hitted by COVID-19 just as the peak season (October-March) was ending. The outcome was that bookings made in advice were cancelled. In March and April alone, 9,616 room nights were cancelled, as per Anay Dwivedi, MD of the state’s tourism development corporation. Most hotels in Orchha have sent their staff home, paying them half their salaries because of novel coronavirus scare, 

Foreign tourists have arrived in Khajuraho for the first time in February this year. When two foreign tourists from Brazil- Maria and Joe-reached Khajuraho,the locals were excited to see foreign tourists in Khajuraho and the owners of small businesses welcomed them with smiles and tears.The arrival of foreign tourists has brought relief for families dependent on tourism business whose income were stalled for nearly a yearbecause they are facing economic crisis.  Business activities have started due to increase in the number of domestic tourists but it's still not enough. They are hopeful that with the arrival of   the arrival of foreign tourists, their earning will increase.Tourists praised the craftsmanship, temples and nearby sites of Khajuraho.

The temples of Khajuraho, which were closed during lockdown due to Corona infection, were opened to tourists last year on July 6.  Foreign tourists are not able to come to Khajuraho due to the closed flights, but the number of domestic tourists has increased.In a recent survey conducted by real estate consultancy firm, JLL, 60% of people associated with the tourism sector are of the opinion that the recovery in the hospitality sector will take 13 to 24 months. But still people have not lost their hope and said that they will come over this too one day and everything will be back to normal again. Now the big question is will the government give stimulus to tourism industry also?