India has banned tourists by cancelling almost all visas in an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Experts fear India’s already overstretched medical system would struggle to deal with a major rise in serious cases – after 73 people tested positive for the illness.
There haven’t been any deaths meaning the country of 1.3billion people has so far fared better than elsewhere in Asia, Europe and North America.
New Delhi revealed almost all visas will be cancelled for a period of five weeks – until April 15.
Experts fear India’s already overstretched medical system would struggle to deal with a major rise in serious cases – after 73 people tested positive for the illness. Pictured, a worker sprays disinfectant on a bus in preparation for the virus
The ban on foreign visitors will include Indian people who live abroad but diplomats, officials and members of international organisations like the UN are exempt and will still be allowed to travel.
Anyone who has been to Italy, Iran, China, south Korea, France, Spain and Germany since 5 February will be quarantined for 14 days.
Last week India ended visas to nationals from China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan.
Indians planning to go abroad have been forced to cancel their plans as they are told to avoid all non-essential travel.
There haven’t been any deaths meaning the country of 1.3billion people has so far fared better than elsewhere in Asia, Europe and North America. Pictured, a commuter dons a facemask
The Indian diaspora account for some 50 per cent of the tourists who visit India every year to see family and go to weddings.
Even these Persons of Indian Origin who can usually enter India without a visa have now been banned from visiting.
The Health Ministry is worried India’s population density of some 420 people per square kilometre will make it easier for the virus to spread.
But hotels and travel operators are concerned the decision could have a monumental impact on an industry that caters to around 10 million tourists a year.
The ban on foreign visitors will include Indian people who live abroad but diplomats, officials and members of international organisations like the UN are exempt and will still be allowed to travel. Pictured, this commuter wears a facemask
‘Everything has been cancelled,’ Rachna Singh, CEO of the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan, a popular destination for visitors with its forts and palaces, saying many people who had booked to visit next month had abandoned plans.
She said four in 10 people relied in some way on tourism in Rajasthan, where some of the first cases of coronavirus in India were reported last month among a group of Italian visitors.
‘All our members are suffering at the moment,’ said Chetan Gupta, general secretary of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, adding that the visa ban risked taking tourism and business activity to an ‘all time low’.
Sooraj Nair, director of the five-star Crowne Plaza hotel in Kochi, a city in southern India famed for its spices, said occupancy at his hotel had dropped to 20 per cent.
Average hotel occupancy in India in 2019 was around two thirds.
Government and industry sources said on Thursday they expected economic growth to slide for at least two quarters.
Share prices of Indian airlines tumbled on Thursday, as the visa ban prompted ticket discounting in an already depressed air travel market.
Other regional nations also took steps to combat the virus. The Maldives archipelago declared a public health emergency giving the government extra powers to ban pubic gatherings and Sri Lanka ordered schools closed for more than five weeks.
Indian Sports Secretary RS Jhulaniya told Reuters that the chief ministers of two states where India’s cricket national team will play South Africa this month have been told the matches can go ahead but that stadiums must be empty.
Brijesh Patel, chairman of the governing council of the Indian Premier League for domestic cricket, said a meeting would be held on Saturday to discuss ‘all possibilities’ regarding the tournament that is due to start this month, including visas for overseas players and whether spectators could watch.