New Delhi, Jan. 2 (PTI): A week after tsunami, its effects on Indian tourism sector have started showing.

The jolt has been given, tour operators say as foreign tourists have started cancelling their trips to popular destinations Goa and Kerala.

"The jolt to the tourism sector has been given. Some cancellations have been made in Goa and Kerala. The foreign tourists are even enquiring whether Delhi is safe to visit," says Maharaj I S Wahi, former President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).

"The maximum number of casualties have not been in India and yet the media is full of stories about the damage in coastal areas in India," he says.

"The department of tourism has sent out the message that all is well here. Kerala tourism has also sent out travel advisories but all these are not going to help much. The tourists depend on what the travel agents tell them," says Wahi.

"It is all going to depend on how we portray the situation in India - the glass half full or half empty," he says.

"Also going to be hit is the domestic tourism in a big way. Whenever there is any such tragedy a 'fear' psychosis sets in... people are scared to go out for holidays," says Rabindra Seth, a well-known travel writer.

However, Subhash Goyal, President, IATO, says "India has already achieved its target of three million tourists for this year. And besides a few cancellations here and there, there has been no bulk cancellation of trips."

"Moreover, the fact is that due to tsunami, not a single foreign tourist has lost his life here. Also, India is not one of the countries which is worst hit... all these factors should go in India's favour," says Goyal.

"Tsunami is not like SARS scare. An earthquake is a natural calamity and can happen anytime, anywhere. It is a one-time affair," he says.

"Mainland India is alright. There is no scare here and there is no end to tourist attractions," he says, noting "what is surely going to be affected is Indians' travel to South East Asia for some time now."

Seth says "India can in fact tap the tourism market to its benefit. As other South East Asian countries take time to recover, India can be an alternate destination for tourists."

"Many policy decisions like low cost carriers and allowing domestic airlines to fly outside will go a long way in promoting tourism in 2005," says Seth.

But Wahi says topmost priority should be to portray in the media that India is a safe destination.