India’s tourism industry has been hit by a wave of violent anti-government protests.
India’s tourism industry has been hit by a wave of violent anti-government protests across the country.
Clashes have been taking place in multiple cities across India leading to accusations of police brutality.
In the past two weeks alone, officials estimate about 200,000 domestic and international tourists have cancelled or postponed their trip to the Taj Mahal.
“There has been a 60 percent decline in visitor footfalls in December this year [compared to last year],” said Dinesh Kumar, a police inspector with the special tourist police.
“Indian and foreign tourists have been calling our control rooms to check security. We assure them protection, but many still decide to stay away.”
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, Israel, Singapore and Taiwan have all issued travel warnings telling their citizens to either refrain from visiting or to exercise caution should they travel.
Protesters have been demonstrating against a controversial law that many claim discriminates against Muslims and appeals to a Hindu nationalist agenda.
The Citizenship Amendment Act provides an expedited path to citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Parsees from Muslim-majority Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Because Muslims are excluded from the Act, critics argue it violates India’s secular constitution.
Twenty-five people have so far been killed nationwide in the protests.
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