JAISALMER: With Covid cases rising in the state, tourism business in the district has been adversely affected as tourist footfall has taken a dip. Foreign tourists, who generally arrive in hundreds in January, was missing in the district this month.
Businesses including hotels, restaurants, camel riders, langa manganiyars and guides are bearing the brunt of the virus.
Paryatan Vyavasayi Mahasangh president Jitendra Singh Rathore said, “The tourism industry in the district has been gravely affected for the last two years. This year, there was hope but now with the increasing corona cases, the tourism season has completely been ruined. Small tourism businessmen and many people earning their livelihood from it are worried about their future.”
Even flights to Jaisalmer have reduced due to lack of passengers. On Saturday, there was no flight to Jaisalmer. Three out of five flights flying to Jaisalmer have been cancelled till February. Airlines like Trujet and Spicejet have cancelled their flights to Jaisalmer for operational maintenance. Spicejet airline flying from Jaisalmer to Mumbai and Bangalore has cancelled its flight services for this tourist season.
Jaisalmer civil airport deputy director Anubhav Jain said Spicejet has cancelled its flight services to Mumbai and Bangalore for operational reasons while Trujet has cancelled its flight services between Jaisalmer and Ahmedabad due to runway repairing in Ahmedabad.
The fate of the desert festival, scheduled to be organised from February 14-16, is yet to be decided. No meeting has taken place for organising it. Generally preparations start two months in advance, but this year, despite less than a month remaining, no preparations have begun.
Jaisalmer tourism department assistant director Krishna Kumar said, “ looking at the increasing Covid numbers and as per the government guidelines, the chance of organising it is very less.” However, the final decision will be taken next week in a meeting with the district collector.
