Uber rape case: Tourism on tenterhooks as foreign advisories flood in

NEW DELHI: India’s travel and tourism industry is reeling under the possible impact on business after the alleged rape of a young woman executive in an Uber cab, given the advisories issued by countries such as Britain and France to travellers to India since the gang-rape incident in Delhi in December 2012.

In its latest advisory issued in January this year, Britain referred to sexual attacks involving Polish, German and Danish women travellers to India. “These have been reported so far in 2014. Women travellers should exercise caution when travelling in India even if they are travelling in a group,” Britain said in the advisory, which is yet to be revised.

Tourism and ancillary businesses are the first to be hit, according to tour operators, who cite cases of immediate cancellation following such incidents. If India does not take its law and order seriously, visitors will just want to stay away, said Subhash Goyal, president of Indian Association of Tour Operators.

Data bears this out. In the aftermath of the December 2012 case, inflows of foreign women travellers had dipped 35% and overall arrivals dropped 25%, as per a study by industry lobby Assocham. The situation is scarcely different today, said Assocham secretary general DS Rawat.

“Foreign tourists are frightened and this is dissuading them from coming to India,” he said. Several hotels have taken it upon themselves to make women travellers feel safe. According to Vijay Wanchoo, senior executive vice president and general manager at The Imperial hotel in Delhi, occupancy in ‘Eliza’ rooms aimed at single women travellers has risen 70-75% particularly from Europe and the US since the hotel launched a special programme in 2010.

“The services have been sensitised as per the needs of the single lady traveller and the year-on-year growth for the same is approximately 20%,” said Wanchoo.

Other hotels have followed suit in light of the widely-publicised incidents of rape and the consequent possible impact on inbound tourism. The chains that have incorporated special focus on women travellers include ITC, The Leela, Starwood and even mid-market players like Lemon Tree and budget player Premier Inn.

“Hotels have to take this seriously. There is a perception in the market that India isn’t safe. We don’t see a major impact right away, but if such incidents continue it could be bad for India in the long run,” said Dilip Puri, managing director, India at Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Rajeev Kohli, joint MD of tour operator Creative Travel India blamed the media for the coverage.