LUCKNOW, INDIA India's government has issued special warnings to foreign tourists visiting the Taj Mahal city of Agra, following a recent spate of illegal scams and robberies. Authorities drafted a list of do's and dont's, urging overseas visitors to avoid the hordes of non government-approved guides, hawkers and hoteliers looking to make a fast buck out of the 1.5 million foreign tourists who visit the Taj Mahal every year.

There has been an alarming increase in incidents of duping or robbing foreign tourists by unscrupulous operators in Agra, Senior Tourism Official K.K. Shrestha told AFP Tuesday. There have also been cases of unsuspecting foreigners being drugged and robbed of their valuables. hence, we decided to issue the guidelines. The most important thing the foreigners should guard against is being lured by unscrupulous guides, Shrestha said, citing an incident last month when an Italian couple were taken to a restaurant by a tout they had befriended.

The couple were served drugged food, and all their belongings including cash, cameras and credit cards were stolen. All this is giving Agra and the country as a whole a very bad name, Shrestha said, adding the warnings were being sent to all foreign embassies here. However, the guidelines have been greeted with hostility by some traders and hoteliers in Agra who depend on the tourist market.

The guidelines are unfair, said B.P. Sharma, who runs a hotel and curio shop in Agra. There may be some black sheep among us but it is for the government to identify and punish them on the basis of complaints received from foreign tourists. Asking them not to have any transactions or deal with us is totally unjustified and will mean the loss of our livelihood.

India's most famous monument, the Taj Mahal was built between 1630 and 1652 by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mark of undying love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. (AFP)