Internet campaigns hit city tour operators hard

GUWAHATI, March 7: Three reputed tour operators of the city were in for a rude shock recently when at least nine groups of tourists, mainly from European nations and Japan cancelled their programmes of visiting the State at the last moment causing major financial losses to the operators. Courtesy - a deliberate campaign by two travel-related websites (www.fco.gov.uk/travel and www.bmzl.com) asking interested tourists from these nations to cancel their programmes combined with a negative campaign by several travel heavyweights in Delhi as well as sheer indifference of the Union Ministries of Tourism and External Affairs and State government departments con-cerned. Addressing mediapersons here this morning, Amar Bora, president of the All Assam Tour Operators' Association (AATOA) informed that based upon the literature of these two websites government departments in the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland have advised their countrymen against visiting the Northeast, specially Assam in view of the run up to the Assembly polls. Similarly, the Japanese Embassy issued a 'red alert' to all Assam-bound tourists from the country sometime back in this connection. A downloaded copy of the warning page of the www.bmzl.com clearly says, 'official sources encourage putting off holidays or business travels to Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur' while for visiting the other states of the region 'due caution should be exercised.' The other website also advises the would be travellers against holidaying or other non-essential travel to Manipur, Tripura and Assam. It also adds that 'while foreigners are not targets of violence, attacks can be indiscriminate.' Bora said that while nine groups have cancelled their programmes so far in the current tourist season, they anticipated more cancellations due to this factor. The office-bearers of the AATOA including its general secretary Arup Barua were also sour about some big tour operators in Delhi in league with the Union Ministries of Tourism and External Affairs officials of being involved in a concerted efforts to destroy the tourism industry in the State as well as the region. They further rued the total indifference shown by the State government officials of the departments concerned in doing something to correct the situation. 'Whenever any interested foreign tourist gets in touch with an Indian Embassy or High Commission in that country the officials try their best to discourage the tourists to visit Assam. Bora informed that at least two representations were made to the Union Minister for Tourism with copies to all departments concerned for necessary action yet nothing has been done to remedy the situation. The AATOA suggested circulation of informative guidelines to all embassies of the country outside, organising a familiarisation tour of foreign embassy officials to the State and the region and also allowing AATOA members for directly dealing with foreign tourists among others.