Beware of India tour operators, they hike forex for tourists

Indian travel industry players have called for steps to ease the hardships faced by tourists as a result of the demonetization of high value currency notes on November 8.

At a meeting of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) held on December 7 in New Delhi, members said that the amount of foreign exchange allowed to be exchanged by the tourists should be hiked so that the visitors do not have a poor and bad experience in India.

On another level, senior leaders like Rajeev Kohli, Senior Vice President for IATO, and Joint Managing Director at Creative Travel, asked the members to gather data on whatever points they have to make; otherwise the officials may not be convinced.

Some members felt that there was a decline in upmarket bookings from some markets.

There was a demand to see that tourists are not harassed at monuments and the ASI should streamline its working.

The Archecological Survey of India looks after some 300 monuments in the country, which are visited by the tourists.

Subhash Goyal, former IATO President, said that efforts were being made to see that an e-visa at four ports is implemented soon.