Agra, December 2:

Agra’s tourism industry has been severely hit by the terror strikes in Mumbai that targeted 10 locations across the city, including two luxury hotels. A large number of foreign tourists have cancelled their trips and people visiting the Taj Mahal have nearly halved.

While members of various travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and guides’ associations marched and lit candles here last evening in memory of those who died in the attacks in Mumbai, tourism Industry leaders have expressed concern over reports of large scale postponement and cancellations of trips by foreigners to India.

December, usually, attracts the maximum number of foreign visitors to Agra. But this year, there has been a drastic dip in numbers, industry members said. Already, the arrivals have been affected with just around 1,500 foreigners visiting the Taj Mahal on Monday as against 2,260 on November 24.

Budget hotels have been hit the most as night stays have reduced. "The fire in Oberoi and Taj in Mumbai has directly affected Agra," a hotelier said. Tourism Guild president Rajeev Narain fears there could be more than 3,500 cancellations this month. Five star hotel Jaypee Palace reported close to 450 cancellations. Narain said that city hotels are tightening security arrangements and installing required gadgets to meet any eventuality in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Mumbai that claimed 183 lives.