Click to play videoNew Delhi: It has become a rather disturbing trend around the country now.
And what could be called an ideal publicity for Incredible India, the increasing incidents of crime against tourists in the country has ensured that India is no longer considered a safe destination by tourists worldwide.
In the World Economic Forum’s Report on Competitiveness in the Travel and Tourism industry:
- India ranks 117th out of 130 countries in terms of safety and security for travelers though it has an overall ranking of 65.
- The parameters for the ranking include threat of terror, reliability of police services and business costs to tourism because of crime and violence.
Incidents of eve-teasing, harassment and fleecing are common and cases including the rape of a German tourist by the son of an Orissa top cop have contributed to the threat perception, forcing countries like the US and UK to issue warnings in travel advisories.
“There have been at least four cases of sexual assault against tourists in Rajasthan in the past three months alone, but tourists too need to have a better understanding and regard for what's locally acceptable and what's not,” says says IG, Jaipur Range, Pankaj Kumar.
The Ministry of Tourism claims all measures are in place to prevent such crimes, but crimes against tourists continue.
“Considering the rise in crime against tourists, the police is looking to set up more tourist help booths, handling out leaflets to do’s and don’ts, asking the hotels to have internal staff accreditation,” says Kumar.
Despite the grand scale at which the Incredible India campaign has been pitched, the issue of security and safety is vital in creating goodwill in the international tourism circuit.
Measures like complaint cells and a special tourist police force have been implemented only by a few states so far.
The Ministry of Tourism will have to make genuine efforts and it can't wash its hands off saying policing is a state subject.
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