Indian and Myanmar tour companies fear that the July 7 bombing at Bodh Gaya combined with fluctuations in the exchange rate will dramatically reduce the number of visitors to the Buddhist pilgrimage site in northern Indian.
“Most pilgrimage firms have had to put up their prices because of the increase of the US dollar,” said Daw Hnin Moe Way, a business tourism association representative in Myanmar, speaking to Mizzima. “Now it is clear that tours will reduce following the bomb blast at the Bodh Gaya site.”
Maung Maung Aye, the chairman of the Bodhgaya Pilgrim Tour Association said, “We will have to wait until September to see what security system improvements are in place. Hopefully, if the security situation is better, pilgrims will want to come here.”
