India upbeat despite recent violence

India upbeat despite recent violence
By admin


A recent spate of violent incidents against women in India has been described by the country's tourism board as a "huge setback" for its promotional efforts in Australia.

Indiatourism regional director Australasia Madhu Dubey told Travel Today that the local office has been inundated with "concerns and queries" in recent months from travellers worried about the safety implications of visiting the destination.

"We have responded by saying that, like any part of the world, any tourist has to exercise caution," she said. "India can be as safe or unsafe as anywhere in the world."

Dubey advised travellers planning a trip to India to use approved travel agents and tour operators, recommended on the Government of India website, and to be wary of deals that sound "too good to be true".

But she stressed that the events are "abherrations and not the routine" and said swift action had been taken to deal with the perpetrators of the series of crimes which erupted with the gang rape and murder of a 26 year old woman in December.

"These are incidents where the government has acted swiftly and with the intention to punish the culprits," she said. "It's very reassuring that the government machinery is not going to tolerate any laxity."

The impact of the incidents on visitation to India has yet to become clear, but the tourism body is targeting growth of between 10% and 15% from the Australian market in 2013 with Dubey confident that numbers are so far on track.

Last year, Australian numbers grew to 214,000 from 193,000 in 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

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