Tourism is an important sector that has an impact on the development of a country. Tourism is useful source of income to help developing countries to improve conditions. Tourism brings much needed foreign money in the country’s economy. Tourism is an instrument of economic regeneration and stability, hence, if properly harnessed, it has the capacity to create wealth, empower the people and generate employment opportunities. The sector has been the economy’s mainstay of many countries worldwide. A Journey to “ Incredible India “may be anything but since last month once again Tourists were raped and sexually assaulted. Sexual harassment has to come to be widely recognized as a form of human rights violation. Thomson Reuters Foundation con¬ducted a global study survey and as per it India is the fourth (4th) most dangerous country in the world for women. Sexual harassment is on the peak in India as per the global survey of Thomson Reuters.
Recently a thirty year Japanese tourist who was allegedly raped by a taxi driver in Kullu ( Manali) on May 30 2018. The driver took the woman to a seduced place in Kullu and raped her. India has lot of tourist rape cases, but it is unfortunate India is not initiating the strict Action against rapists. According to the report of National Crime Records Bureau, Some of the Tourist rape cases among are , in 2016 Israeli national who took lift in a car on way to Manali bus stand was gang raped, on 03 June 2013 American tourist who was offered a ride in a truck from Vashisht near Manali was gang-raped by Nepalese, In may 2012 an Australian tourist who befriended a Chandigarh youth on facebook raped by him in Kasol and In June2007 a south Korean raped in Kullu. According to the Times of India in 2017 a foreign Nation who was on visit to Goa had a terrifying experience. She was sexually assaulted by a man whom she had hires as driver, she post on ordeal on her facebook page along with picture of accused. A study by Ministry of Tourism found that visitors in India are more likely to be a victim of cheating, theft and sexual crimes.
According to the data released by the National Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2015, Out of 365 cases of crimes against foreigners, 271 cases ( 74.2 %) were registered under crimes against foreign tourists , 223 cases related to theft, 12 rape cases, 23 cases of outrage modesty and forgery 15 cases. Most of these crimes were reported from Delhi, followed by Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Goa, according to the NCRB data. Sexual assaults on foreign tourists coming to India have brought Shame to India and put a question mark on India being a safe destination for foreigners. According to an R.T.I reply by activist of Goa, 245 have died in Goa in last 13 years. Manipulation, theft and sexual harassment are the top concerns for both the domestic and foreigner visitors in India.
Where Does Kashmir Stand ?
In the seventeenth century, Amir Khusrow said that if paradise is anywhere on the earth, it is here (the Kashmir valley), while living in a houseboat on Dal lake, “Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast”, which translates to “If there is ever a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here”. Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Zero crimes were committed against foreigners in Kashmir as per NCRB report. Kashmir saw a six month long uprising by the Killing of Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July 2016 .Thousands were injured and at least hundreds were killed during this period. But still having of violence in Kashmir NCRB report showed zero crime rates against tourists.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) annual data for all crimes documented in 2016, the state recorded no crime against foreigners in 2016 and 2015. The data for crimes committed against foreigners and by foreigners has been categorized under States and various crime heads. Although the data shows that crime against foreigners has reduced in the past three years, Delhi has shown little change in the category. According to report, 382 crimes were committed against foreigners in India, According to the data, 154 foreigners were subjected to crime in Delhi last year as compared to 147 in 2015 and 164 in 2014.
“Every kashmiri have been taught hospitality, humanity and safeguarding the rights of guests”. The 2017 year ended on a high with the number of foreign tourist arrivals crossing the 1o Million marks. This pushed the country’s earnings to over 27 billion dollars. If the process of sexual crimes against tourists will continues in India, the day is not far off when India will take the first position of most dangerous country in the world for women. Government needs to take initiatives in order to overcome this menace .Tourists should be informed about the situation in the state so that they can come prepared. Transport services and other logistics that are often used by tourists visiting the states need to regulated, many of these crimes are committed by taxi drivers and others because of the lack of regulation.
(Author is students at Law Department Kashmir University Srinagar.His views are personal)
