Many foreign tourists flee Mumbai

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-30-2008 10:58

The Mumbai hostage crisis may have come to an end, but India is still gripped by fear. While police are trying to find those still missing and identify the dead, tourists are leaving the country in droves.

Foreign guests react after being rescued from the Taj Hotel  in Mumbai November 27, 2008.REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe (Reuters)

Scared and shocked, many foreign tourists packed their bags and ended the journey they wished they'd never started.

But at least they can now finally breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Angela Dominguez Perez, Spanish Tourist, said, "I'm very much looking forward to seeing my parents because they've been so nervous about me."

Li Qing, Chinese Tourist, said, "I was really scared. I think this has just gone on too long for me and it seems like they've spent a very long time resolving the problem."

The militant attack struck 10 sites around the country's financial hub, leaving 195 dead and nearly 300 wounded. Some visitors expressed concern for the future of India's tourism industry.

Yuonno Cawson, British Tourist, said, "I think it will put an awful lot of people off coming, I really do and I think that's very sad for places like Goa, which is so heavily reliant on tourism."

Some visiting European parliament members were also caught up in the crisis. They admitted there may be an immediate backlash, but remain optimistic about EU-India ties in the long run.

Syed Kamall, Member of European Parliament, said, "Long term, I very much hope we'll get on with it. We'll stand shoulder to shoulder with India and that people will return to India, that the EU and Britain will continue trading with India. But I think in the short term people are going to stop and reflect and worry."

Across the world, people are worried about the number of countrymen killed or wounded in Mumbai. Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd briefed reporters on the latest information.

Kevin Rudd said, "Of the 83 believed to be in the area, we remain concerned about two people reported to be Australians. We can confirm that again that three Australians have been injured."

Others Australians caught up in the attacks have been arriving home. Among them are Australian actress Brooke Satchwell and her boyfriend David Gross.

Officials confirmed that the crisis is now over, but concerns remain about whether attacks of this nature could happen again. It's just one of many terrorist attacks that has plagued India in recent years.

Editor:Du Xiaodan