The crime appalled India and brought simmering anger over widespread crime against women to the boil. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) says overall tourist arrivals are down 25 percent year-on-year, with holidaymakers opting instead to visit other Asian countries such as Malaysia and Thailand.
The fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old Indian student by six men on a bus in New Delhi in December sparked outrage over the country's treatment of women, and since then there have also been other widely reported attacks.
A Swiss cyclist was gang-raped in Madhya Pradesh last month, while a South Korean tourist was allegedly drugged and raped in the same state in January by the son of the owner of a hotel where she was staying.
These incidents have "raised concerns about the safety of female travellers to the country", said D S Rawat, secretary general at ASSOCHAM, which surveyed 1,200 tour operators from different cities.
Nearly 72 percent of tour operators reported a number of cancellations in the last three months -- usually a busy tourist season -- especially by female visitors from countries such as Canada, the United States and Australia.
Rawat said deteriorating standards of safety and security were the main reasons for the drop in tourists, although the global economic slowdown was also a factor.
"The situation has been further aggravated by the advisory issued by various countries to their citizens visiting India to be cautious and avoid India," added the release from ASSOCHAM on Sunday.
The survey comes as a blow to government attempts to boost the tourism industry in a period of lagging economic growth.
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Even though I am an Indian, I feel that this serves right. If there is no security in certain regions of the country and government and local bodies fail to check these kind of incidents, then foreign tourist should avoid visiting such places. Let them suffer economically, then they will realize that how ignorant they have been to the security aspect of the industry. Let the rapists choose between rape or food for themselves.
Mr. Mes,
It is unfortunate that such incident happened in India and every sane person would condemned it ,what you are talking about in Pakistan is a political issues.Why is it that such things were not happening in Pakistan before 2003? This is a serious issue in India which is happening for many many years. But can't you see what is happening with tourists?They are like guests and should be treated with respect.
@A.Q. Bhatti:
don't worry, no one in India wants Pakistanis to visit the country. The last i checked, the Liberal visa agreement was cancelled by India.
India is more safer by not allowing the mobs who torch girls schools,kill people on name of blasphemy,kill people who are involved in polio immunization campaign, who conduct massacre of hia's,ahmadis etc.the list is long.but anyway,you get the picture.Please do us the favor, don't set your feet on this part of land even by mistake.
It incumbent on Pakistani media to educate their citizens visiting the rapists' heaven, INDIA.
For becoming a tourist's attraction the visitors' safety is of prime importance. If female tourists are repeatedly being raped in India, then its incumbent on Pakistani media to educate their citizens visiting India. Every country issues warning to their citizens to visit dangerous places, so if Pakistani government is not doing her duty, the responsibility lies on media to educate their citizenry.
I don't understand why is Pakistani media so much interested in the issues of India. First of all you should focus on your tourism, their are many tourists who are diverting themselves to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and etc. Does Pakistan govt even cares about tourism in Pakistan? Do you know how much Pakistan can earn from foreign tourists? It can play an important role in the economy of Pakistan. Take the example of Egypt, I don't think they have any such manufacturing industry but still their economy is better than Pakistan as most of the tourists visit that country.
If these tourists are diverting to these countries, they can also come to Pakistan.