Agra, Apr 16 (IANS): India's star tourism destination, Agra, is in shambles. Covid-19 has crippled the economy of eleven five star hotels and around 500 budget hotels which have been shut down since March 22.

After the shutdown of historical monuments and sealing of borders of the district, due to the lockdown, the hotels are deserted. Even marriages are not being solemnised and no social functions are allowed in order to promote social distancing.

Tourism associations and business chambers have petitioned the prime minister for relief in taxes and various other levies. The hoteliers have demanded waiving of fixed charges in electricity bills for two years.

The situation is grim, said Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association. The state government can help in many ways, including financial assistance to pay the salaries of staff, in budget hotels. We need relief in house tax, water and sewer tax to survive, he told IANS.

"With little hope of tourism sector reviving before October, after the rains, we are in for a cruel grind," said senior hotelier Surendra Sharma, owner of Goverdhan hotel, one of the oldest in the city.

Tourism guide Ved Gautam said, thousands of guides, photographers, vendors are without any means of living. If tourists don't come, what shall we do, Gautam asked.

At the railway stations coolies have no work. Even the Petha outlets are closed. Most tourists, domestic ones, seldom forget to buy a packet of Agra's famous sweet, made of gourd and soaked in sweet syrupy liquid.

Hundreds of taxis are permanently parked for want of tourists. Ola and Uber drivers have no work.