Days of riots have already cost businesses and insurers hundreds of millions of dollars. The cost to Britain's reputation and its lucrative tourist trade in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games may be incalculable. London's historic center, visited by millions of tourists a year, has been almost untouched by the riots which hit a handful of inner-city and suburban areas. That hasn't stopped images of flaming buildings and shattered shops under headlines like "London's burning" flashing around the globe.

“Passengers with UK bookings in August are apprehensive about going ahead with their travel plans. We have had a few cancellations and requests to postpone bookings to September,” said Anil Punjabi, the chairman (east) of the Travel Agents’ Federation of India.

The rioting in London and the pace at which it spread to other cities seem to have also scared off many parents who were eager to send their children to the UK for higher studies as per a report in The Telegraph. Many of those returning to India from UK trips have been forced to reschedule their travel.