No country advised its citizens against India visit on account of pollution: Government

NEW DELHI: No country has advised its citizens against travelling to India during winter months on account of high pollution but some like Germany and Austria have advised their people, especially those with chronic respiratory problems, to avoid long stays here.

"While referring to the high levels of pollution in some cities in India during the winter months, some countries like Germany and Austria have advised their citizens especially those with chronic respiratory disorders to avoid long stay during the period or to seek medical advise prior to travelling to India.

"However, no country has advised against travel to India on account of the above," Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma told the Rajya Sabha in reply to a question on whether some developed countries have instructed their citizens to avoid visiting some cities in India due to air pollution.

To another question on whether the income from tourism has been affected during the current year, the minister said the Ministry does not compile data of income generated through tourism in India.

"The foreign exchange earnings through tourism during the period January-October 2015 was Rs 1,01,348 crore, registering a growth of 2.5 per cent over the same period in 2014," he said.