Though tourism monuments across Rajasthan, one of the principal destinations in India, reopened on June 2, after over 11 weeks of closure due to coronavirus pandemic, tourists seem to be giving it a complete miss.
Even more than two weeks after tourism was allowed and lockdown eased further to permit tourists to come to the state or move within, most iconic landmarks of tourism in Jaipur, such as Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort, Albert Hall or the Jal Mahal remained entirely bereft of any tourists. All the tell-tale signs of tourists, noisy groups wielding selfie-sticks, couples getting their pictures clicked or taking most outrageous selfies, parking lots cramped with badly parked cars or buses and hawkers vending all kinds of goods to the tourists, remain completely absent from all the tourist landmarks.
Not just the landmarks, even other segments that depend entirely on tourists — large handicraft and artisanal stores or restaurants at key tourist spots have stayed shut three weeks into the opening. In addition, even the smaller shops in the Pink City’s main markets, that are frequented by locals and tourists alike, are empty with neither category of customers turning up. Local hoteliers also say there are practically no bookings by any tourists and any guests that come are there for an emergency such as a hospitalised family member. The situation is unlikely to change in a hurry as the pandemic takes a vice-like grip over the entire nation and the rate of new infections scales a new high every day.
