India: Tourism industry

The “Incredible India” campaign did a magnificent job of making India the cynosure of global tourists' eyes. India became a hot destination for foreign tourists over the last decade. As per India's Tourism Ministry, the country attracted a record number of overseas visitors, around 6.6 million in 2012. The footfalls helped the country earn $17.74 billion in foreign exchange. However, the  increasing number of sexual crimes against women have adversely affected the country's tourism potential. Many countries have issued advisories, warning their citizens against visiting India. The Indian government has dismissed such warnings as knee-jerk reactions but the number of visitors  have been going down.

India’s tourism took a heavy knock when a young woman was brutally gang raped in the capital in December last year. The incident ignited  national outrage and hogged media limelight worldwide. Even before the dust had settled down, a Swiss tourist, who was on a cycling trip to India along with her husband, was waylaid and raped in Madhya Pradesh on March 15. Another British tourist jumped out of her hotel room window to escape sexual harassment in Agra. Consequently, the number of foreigners travelling to India has dropped significantly. A study conducted by ASSOCHAM has found that  foreign tourist arrivals plunged by 25 per cent  between January and March. The number of women tourists has shown a significant dip, declining 35 per cent since the Delhi incident was reported.

The government has sorely been found wanting in correcting India's perceptions abroad in the aftermath of such incidents. This kind of cavalier attitude could cost India's tourism industry dearly. The travel and tourism sector alone contributed 6.4 per cent to India’s GDP in 2011 (amounting to Rs. 6.7 billion) as per the World Travel & Tourism Council. Moreover,  the tourism industry generates 39 million direct, indirect and induced jobs in India. Now, an incredible turnaround is a must to repair the battered image of the country's tourism industry.