Foreign Tourists in India

Safety of foreign tourists is an issue of immediate concern to those promoting tourism in the country

How safe is India for international tourists? This question has haunted the Government of India and the Ministry of Tourism for a long time but no quick solution seems to be in sight.  Petty thefts and cases of cheating have been a cause of problem for foreign tourists in India for a long time now. Of late, there have been instances of heinous crimes against foreign women, kidnapping in addition to the various acts of terror in which foreigners had been targeted.

Easy targets
International Tourists have always been targets of various anti social elements in India. Passport thefts of foreign tourists, especially those belonging to the USA, are very common. They are also easy preys to scams, wherein the perpetrators convince the tourists to smuggle items of high value to their countries to make an easy buck. Another relatively harmless but serious scam is carried out by taxi drivers, who overcharge international tourists manifold instead of the regular tariff.

Watch your step
The safety of international tourists in certain areas of India is a matter of concern. Therefore, the Government of India, as a precaution, has restricted entries for foreign tourists without prior permission to most north east states, parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarkhand, Rajasthan, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Laskhdweep Islands as also a Tibetan colony in Karnataka.

Shame!
There have been many reported cases of kidnap of international travelers to make some fast cash. International journalists who tread murky waters for stories and stray into dangerous territory become targets of outlaws. It holds true for parts of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the north east. Besides kidnapping, crimes against foreign women are at an all time high in India. The most infamous of these cases was the case of Scarlett Keeling, a 15-year-old British National who was raped and killed in Goa. Some cases that have come to light have shockingly involved officials from the government, the police or their relatives. Apart from this, women are subjected to verbal abuse usually by a group of rowdy men which is called ‘eve teasing’. Keeping these in mind, most countries warn women tourists to take extra precautions when in India or even refrain from traveling alone at night. Foreign Tourists in India also become victims of drug peddlers. In effect, they may end up losing their money after being drugged and could be sexually assaulted.  

Terror trap
Many countries issue travel advisories to their citizens visiting India warning them against terror threats. The western world went into a panic mode when the 26/11 attacks took place in Mumbai, in 2008. Terrorists lay siege to the Taj and Trident Hotels, opposite the Gateway of India, which is a favourite tourist destination of foreigners. The tourists ended up as victims of the terror attacks. A Jewish community centre was also attacked. The warnings found firm footing in February 2010, when the German Bakery in Pune, known to be frequented by foreigners who resided in the Osho Ashram nearby, was destroyed in a blast.

All the publicities and campaigns of the Indian government cannot put the fears of tourists to rest. Countries must not need to issue warnings to women to be extra precautionary or refrain from traveling alone. Stricter norms to check miscreant tourists should be put in place by the government officials and even stricter rules should be put in place for swindlers and anti social elements within the country who have become a nuisance for visitors in India. After all, we are the country that says, ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’; guests are an appearance of God.