Cash-hit foreign tourists cut short India visit

New Delhi: Linda, a 34-year-old tourist from Sweden, has been facing a traumatic time standing in bank queues for the past few days to get cash.
Apart from the shortage of cash, she has had to suffer people clicking her photo without permission, getting stalked and even listening to lewd comments passed at her. Since the demonetisation move a week ago, Linda and other foreign tourists are an upset lot.
“For the last three days it’s been a big challenge to get some cash,” Linda told IANS standing in the middle of a crushing queue of around 400 people at a Citibank ATM kiosk in Paharganj.
“I had to go to three banks, and everyday I had to spend around three to four hours to get cash,” Linda said, referring to the severe cash crunch in the country since the government spiked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes on November 8.
She was also upset by the response of the bystanders, and said, “I went mad, when people here passed lewd comments at me.”
She said many clicked pictures of her and many tried to follow her to her hotel. “I feel insecure as there is no proper security arrangement at the banks,” Linda said.
Many other foreign tourists in Delhi are finding it tough to manage. Rebecca, from England who was on a month’s trip to India, told IANS, “I have had to cut short my trip due to the cash crunch. Now I am going back just after 18 days.”
Sharing her experience of standing in the bank queues, Rebecca said, “Standing in the queues is very scary. People stare, they try to come close and they follow us and stalk.”
Kem, a tourist from Japan residing in a hotel in Paharganj area, told IANS: “I have run out of cash. I am unable to buy any food items due to that, so every night I wait at the window of my hotel room and keep a tab on the Citibank ATM just to find out when it will open.”
Kem said he was left with only a Rs 100 note and the cash crisis had forced him to cancel his trip to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
Harbour, who arrived from Britain on Monday on his 30th trip to India, told IANS: “At the airport I had exchanged some cash as I had to go to Ajmer,” adding that “There is no choice but to cope with the situation.”   (IANS)