Crimes committed against foreigners, including tourists, appear to be increasing in India. Think about a few recent incidents and the insights they offer.
Recent cases of crime against tourists
- A 12-year-old Russian girl was raped in a hotel in Goa on April 6 of this year. This is a case of rape of a girl child in Goa. The girl and her mother were guests at the hotel where the rapist worked.
- A case of extortion in Gurugram: On October 23, two criminals posing as police officers approached an Iraqi couple who were staying at a hotel in Gurugram while the husband was receiving treatment at the Medanta hospital. On the guise of examining their wallets, they left with the couple’s $15,000 treatment savings after accusing them of having drugs.
- An instance of sexual misconduct in Delhi: On September 2, a British woman lawyer who was being driven from the airport to her hotel in South Delhi filed a complaint of sexual misconduct against the cab driver. She was so disturbed by the event that she fled for the U.K. two days after being there.
Status of Crimes against foreigners
- Delhi registered 27 incidences of crime against foreigners last year, a significant decrease from the 62 cases reported in 2020 and the 123 cases reported in 2019, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
- Sharp diminution Rajasthan: Due to the substantial dip in tourist visits brought on by COVID-19, Rajasthan has seen a sharp drop in the number of crimes reported from 16 in 2019 to just 4 in 2020 and just two cases last year.
- Despite a decrease in instances, the numbers are still disgraceful and need to be investigated: Up to 29 foreigners were killed in the previous three years. While there were 14 foreign victims of rape in 2018, there were 16 in 2020 and 12 in 2019. Along with 14 reports of dishonesty, 15 incidences of assault to outrage foreign women’s modesty were reported last year nationwide. While there were 142 theft incidents reported by foreigners in 2019, there were only 52 in 2020 and 23 in 2021.
- Most cases don’t get recorded, and women are especially vulnerable: In tourist areas, criminals on the hunt are more likely to sexually assault women. Numerous crimes against foreigners go unreported for a variety of reasons, one of which is the fear these victims feel as a result of the threats made by the criminals. The British national was afraid to file a formal complaint in the South Delhi incident.
How do such cases of crimes against tourists harm our image
- Not only harms our reputation but also has an effect on tourism Crime against foreign nationals not only harms our reputation abroad but may also have a negative impact on the number of international visitors, which is a crucial source of revenue for our nation.
- It affects the tourism industry, one of the major FOREX sources: One of India’s top sources of foreign exchange earnings is tourism. Such incidents could lower tourists’ spirits and make them feel less secure.
Steps by Ministry of Tourism
- The Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), organised a meeting in New Delhi on October 19, 2022, for the proper execution of the tourism police programme. To “sensitise the special requirements of the tourists for effective execution of Uniform Tourist Police Scheme at pan-India level,” it was organised.
- States with tourism law enforcement: Although the idea of “tourist police” has gained popularity in recent years, it has not received the attention it merits. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Rajasthan, and Kerala are the states with tourist police.
- Delhi, a state that has been neglected, is preparing a tourist police wing: The Delhi police, as well as other States that will witness a significant influx of foreigners, are preparing its tourist police wing in anticipation of the upcoming G20 Summit, which was previously in a neglected state.
Conclusion
According to optimistic estimates, 13.34 million foreign visitors will visit the United States by 2024. This highlights the urgent need to update our security measures, particularly to offer foreign visitors a complete sense of security. To pull in large numbers of tourists, safety is of the utmost significance.