New Delhi’s air pollution chokes tourism

Tourists and business travelers are avoiding New Delhi as air pollution in India’s capital reached record levels, travel agents said.

Booking inquiries for hotels and flights to New Delhi have slumped since the Hindu festival of Diwali on Oct. 27, said Sharat Dhall, chief operating officer of the business-toconsumer segment at Yatra Online Inc. Bursting of firecrackers as part of the festivities worsened pollution caused by farm stubble burning in areas around the capital city.

Business travelers are looking to reschedule their visits to a later date, Dhall said in an email, adding that tourists are preferring Himalayan hill stations and destinations in the state of Rajasthan, home to the Thar desert, over New Delhi, famous for the 12th century Qutab Minar and the Red Fort, built in the 17th century.

Pollution levels in New Delhi in early November surged to more than three times of what’s considered hazardous, increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease and lung cancer. While both provincial and federal governments have taken steps, including limiting private vehicles usage and shuttering factories, as of the time of this writing they have been unable to stop farmers from burning crop stubble — smoke from which is the main reason for air becoming a lethal cocktail at this time of the year.

Bookings and travel searches for New Delhi from key international areas including Singapore, Thailand and Qatar have fallen 44%, according to travel website Ixigo. On the other hand, bookings and queries from New Delhi to other destinations have increased 25%, Ixigo said. Last-minute bookings from Delhi to other metros like Mumbai and Bangalore have also surged 20%.

MONEY SHARMA/GETTY-AFP A tourist wears a face mask to protect against air pollution at the Taj Mahal in Agra, about 130 miles from New Delhi.