According to ASSOCHAM assessment the outbreak of Swine Flu in Rajasthan and Maharastra could result in loss of Rs, 5,500 crore in tourism and aviation industries.
The worst hit would be Rajasthan which attracts fairly a large number of foreign tourists during the winter season beginning November-December and running through end of February and the first week of March. Maharashtra, including Mumbai, also attracts the second best number of foreign tourists in the winter season.
ASSOCHAM said both States has affected by swine flu, Rajasthan being hit worst, the number of tourists visiting Jaipur , Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner,Jaisalmer and other locations in the western State is coming down drastically with the state government itself cautioning tourists against the disease.
With increasing cases of swine flu (H1N1 influenza) and the kind of negative reaction on the tourists, the traffic is set to drop drastically in the running month of February leaving a bruising impact on businesses such as hotels, airlines, taxi operators, and restaurants.
As much as Rs. 4,000 crore could be a hit only on account of the net foreign exchange earnings while the secondary losses could add up another Rs. 1200-1500 crore, as per the ASSOCHAM’s conservative assessment.
The chamber secretary general D.S. Rawat says that “The real impact could be even more. Then, there is going to be an impact on the domestic tourism as well, though the domestic tourists flow slows down in January and February with the examination season in schools,”
Src:- http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/swine-flu-to-cost-tourism-in-rajasthan-maharashtra-assocham/article6898636.ece