The effect of demonetisation continues to impact tourists in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Beginning Friday, the Centre has set a weekly foreign currency exchange limit of Rs 5000 till December 15. Foreign tourists and non-resident Indians, however, feel that the weekly exchange amount is insufficient. If foreigners have some relief, Indian tourists do not have the option to swap scrapped currency notes at banks from Friday. 

Sandeep Dwivedy and Vikash Sharma of The Telegraph spoke to a few foreigners and other tourists on how cash-swap rules are affecting them

I came to Odisha from Rajasthan on November 20. I have been facing inconvenience because of demonetisation, as I have been travelling for the last one month. I feel that the cash exchange limit of Rs 5,000 per week that has been allowed for foreigners is just not enough. Apart from meeting hotel expenses, tourists from other countries have to take care of travelling and also buy mementos for family, friends and relatives back home. At present, I am left with only around Rs 2,500 in currency notes of Rs 100. I still have with me some of the scrapped currency notes and will have to visit a 
NRI bank branch to get those exchanged. 

I have become only too cautious about spending to ensure that I do not run into trouble

Nathalie Belluot 
French tourist at Dhauli peace pagoda

I am very cautious on spending. I do not understand the nuances of demonetisation, but it has affected my trip. My contact in Bhubaneswar told me today that the exchange amount for foreign tourists has been sealed at Rs 5,000 a week. It is in no way sufficient for tourists. On Thursday, I visited a shop selling traditional souvenirs. The cost of a replica of a chariot wheel alone was Rs 2,000. I realised today if I buy just two such souvenirs, I would almost run out of cash. So, I would have to settle for cheaper alternatives and bargain with the sellers. In the last 20 days in the country, I have acquired basic bargaining skills and feel that I may get a good deal to ensure that my wallet is not empty

Kathy Erbes Mrsny 
American tourist at Khandagiri-Udaygiri caves

I came to Bhubaneswar on Thursday and the ever-changing demonetisation scenario has hit us hard. The banks have been ordered to stop the exchange facility of demonetised currency notes and this is making it tough for tourists to avail of cash from banks. I am yet exchange money from banks and was planning to do it while travelling in Odisha. I am carrying around Rs 10,000 with me for the weekend trip that ends on Sunday. Out of this, Rs 6,000 is in legal currency. I was hoping that my wife and I would be able to exchange the remaining amount. But, that is not going to happen now. I cannot deposit the amount in the bank and have applied for a new debit card. Petty expenses, such as entry fees to various monuments and tourist spots, travel expenses and hotel charges, require a lot of cash. I am planning to visit Puri on Saturday and hope that I don’t run into any trouble for cash shortage

Srinivas Reddy Gudur 
resident of Hyderabad at Nandankanan zoo 

Being an Odia settled in New Delhi, I come to the state once every two years. This time, it is different. I arrived in the city a week ago and my cousin had lent me his car to travel around the city. I am an entrepreneur and some of my clients have also accompanied me on the trip. I am carrying Rs 5,000 in the Rs 1,000 currency notes that have been scrapped. I had set aside the amount for meeting fuel expenses. But as luck would have it, the government on Thursday disallowed use of 
Rs 1,000 currency notes at petrol pumps. Now, I am looking for someone who can exchange the old Rs 1,000 notes at least for some old Rs 500 notes. I think tourists will face hardship for some more time to come

Debasis Balabantaray
Delhi resident at Lingaraj Temple 

The State Maritime Museum has always been one the favourite spots for the youngsters as we get a lot of space there to spend quality time with our friends. We used to visit the museum almost every week to spend time with college friends. As the museum cafeteria is not accepting the scrapped currency notes, we have stopped coming here frequently. 

To enter the place a visitor has to pay Rs 10, while Rs 30 is charged if one wants to visit the aquarium. So, coming in a group of five friends means spending Rs 50 for entering the museum premises, and Rs 150 for visiting the aquarium. We would need another Rs 150-200 for snacks. The museum does not also have swipe machines where we can our cards. So, it is a better to spend time in a shopping mall, at least for now 

Subrat Sahoo 
college student, at Cuttack Maritime Museum

Pictures by Badrika Nath Das and Telegraph picture