Australia, New Zealand and Canada to look into travel advisories' issue against India

PERTH: Australia, New Zealand and Canada will look into the issue of travel advisories against India after New Delhi raised the matter with these countries saying that the language used in these notices was "disproportionate" and had an adverse impact to its tourism sector.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Australia, New Zealand and Canada on the sidelines of CHOGAM Foreign Ministers' meeting here and raised the issue in detail.

Krishna had taken up the issue with his Australian, Kiwi and Canadian counterparts.

"All three said that they will look into the issue. The Australian Foreign Minister said it was a routine updation done for all countries during holiday or festive season...They still have travel advisory on Bali even though 10 years back 100 Aussies were killed in a bomb blast," official sources told PTI today.

The sources said Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd told Krishna that legally they are bound to provide information and it is also due to policy of insurance companies.

"The risk of insurance payment eases when travel on advisory. He (Rudd) had no clue of the advisories. He also said that a separate department looks into the advisory and has no input...not based on any terrorist information or attacks and are general," the sources said providing details of the meetings.

The meetings on the sidelines of the CHOGM comes in the wake of many countries, including US and Australia, issuing travel advisories to their citizens and New Delhi taking serious note of the issue, maintaining such notices do not reflect the reality and have adverse affect on the tourism to the country.