ATDF demands urgent re-opening of monuments with all SOPs; urge to save Tourism Industry

Aurangabad, June 7:

The Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation ( ATDF) has submitted a memorandum to the union and the State Tourism Ministers, along with the key officials of various tourism offices including the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the district collector, urging them to re-open the monuments in and around Aurangabad for tourists with all standard operating procedures (SOP) in terms of Covid-19 safety, hygiene standards and social distancing norms. ATDF underlines that prompt action will help save Tourism Industry from getting collapsed during the second wave of pandemic situation.

The chairman of Public Relations & Civil Aviation Committee (ATDF), Sunit Kothari in his memorandum addressed to the union Minister of Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel and the State Minister of Tourism Aditya Thackeray drew his attention highlighting that no international tourists are visiting Aurangabad due to the travel restrictions since the past one year. Adding to the woes, no domestic tourists are visiting Aurangabad due to the closure of monuments, in spite of the unlocking measures announced from time to time.

Aurangabad is the “Tourism Capital of Maharashtra” and is the gateway city to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Ajanta & Ellora Caves, the Bibi-ka-Maqbara (the only replica of Taj Mahal in the world), the impregnable Daulatabad Fort and Lonar Crater (formed 50,000 years ago due to meteorite impact and ranked as the biggest crater of it’s kind in the basaltic rock region of the world).

Tourism has a large multiplier effect on the economy and supports many livelihoods both directly and indirectly. There are several jobs and livelihoods which are fully dependant on tourists. Besides the staff working in Hotels and Restaurants, Car and Coach rental companies, Tour Operators, Travel Agents, Guides, Drivers, Cleaners, Souvenir shops Sellers, Artisans and Craftsmen, Handicraft and Handloom product manufacturers, Performing Artists, Musicians, Technicians, Highway food selling outlets, etc. are fully dependant for their livelihood on tourist arrivals.

The monuments are closed for the past several months due to Covid – 19 pandemic and all the tourism stakeholders (as mentioned above) are now fully exhausted of their financial savings and are finding it difficult to sustain their livelihood by each passing day.

Kothari appreciated the unlocking steps taken by the Government by allowing Airlines, Hotels, Restaurants, Malls, Shops, Offices, Industries, Cinema Theatres, etc. to re-open with Covid – 19 safety guidelines in place. Tourism is the only sector that now needs the immediate and urgent attention of the government in its unlocking. The industry stakeholders are willing to follow the government's guidelines on Covid-19 on hygiene, safety, and social distancing norms upon re-opening of the monuments as early as possible and help to save livelihoods of dependants on tourism, he stressed.

The copy of the memoranda was also sent to the Director-General (ASI, New Delhi) Ms. V Vidyavathi, joint director (Directorate of State Tourism) Dhananjay Sawalkar, principal secretary (State Tourism) Mrs. Valsa Nair Singh, the district collector (Aurangabad) Sunil Chavan and the Superintending Archaeologist (ASI, Aurangabad Circle) Milan Kumar Chauley.