World Tourism Day celebrations in Agra brought little cheer as the city’s tourism industry leaders expressed deep concern over the apathy of the state government in promoting Agra as India’s top tourist destination. They lamented the lack of air connectivity to Agra and the impact of rising taxes and declining overnight stays in hotels.
The city’s growth has been stunted due to a lack of futuristic planning and insufficient efforts from the state government, according to industry leaders. Despite being a top tourist destination, Agra lacks basic infrastructure and support to capitalize on its potential. Local leaders feel a disconnect between local aspirations and heritage conservation efforts, as many locals view tourism as a hurdle to their material prosperity.