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Economic slowdown hits inflow of tourists to Dharamsala
by Akhilesh Bharti
Dharamsala:
Economic slowdown and Mumbai terror attacks have adversely
affected the tourism industry in Dharamsala. "This time
is surely a very low tourist season for New Year. There
is a great fear that not many people will come this time,"
said Prem Sagar, a travel agent. Every year thousands
of tourists from abroad visit the town to see the abode
of the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist relics and even have an
audience with the Tibetan spiritual leader. However, today,
apart from the global economic crisis, the recent terror
attacks in Mumbai have discouraged tourists from visiting
Dharamsala. "There are three reasons which have contributed.
One is Mumbai terror attack, number two is general recession
and number three is the most important person holy Dalai
Lama is not here this time. He is probably in Bodh Gaya
or somewhere. He is the centre of attraction here," said
V K Garg, a hotelier. The hotels, restaurants are all
incurring losses. According to people engaged in hospitality
and tourism sectors, it is for the first time in a decade
that they are facing such a situation. Tourism contributes
more than 6 per cent to the country's GDP of one trillion
dollars, and employs 53 million people directly or indirectly.
-Dec
29, 2008
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