Mumbai blasts: India decries tourist advisories

New Delhi, July 18: India today said advisories issued by some countries to their tourists in the wake of the July 11 blasts in Mumbai would only help "encourage terrorists."

"Tourism is the best anti-dote to terrorism. We feel such advisories encourage only terrorists," Mr Amitabh Kant, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, told UNI here today.

Unperturbed by the advisories issued by the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, he asserted the exercise would not affect foreign tourist arrival to India.

"We don't think that the advisories would have any negative impact on the tourists who know that terrorism is a global phenomenon," Mr Kant said.

He said there were terrorist attacks in other parts of the country, including in London. But it did not affect tourism there.

"These incidents do not scare away tourists." Mr Kant said some countries had issued advisories in the wake of the bomb blasts in market places in Delhi on October 29 last year.

But the tourist inflow was not affected by the incident. There was a growth of nearly 25 per cent in foreign tourist arrival in 2005 also.

He said there were several violent incidents in India in the past five years. But under the impact of the high-voltage "Incredible India," there has been an annual growth of 25 to 32 per cent every year.

Mr Kant said the projected growth in the arrival of foreign tourists for 2006 is 20 per cent. The growth in the foreign exchange earning is projected at 25 per cent.

Replying to a question, he said the Mumbai blasts, in which nearly 200 people were killed and 700 injured on July 11, would not have any negative impact on foreign tourists visiting India.

Countries like the UK, Australia and Canada, which contribute significantly to growth in foreign tourist arrival, had issued advisories to the tourists against visiting India within a few days after the blasts. Warning of increased threat perceptions and high security levels across India, including Delhi and Mumbai, these countries have asked their tourists to follow certain do's and don'ts if at all they are very particular to visit India.

The travel advice website of the British Foreign and Commonwealth office warns of "delays" in journeys in the context of stepped up security drill in railway stations and airports.

"You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terror attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners," the advisory says.

The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Australian Government wants its citizen to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect their safety while in India because of terrorist activity by militant groups.

While pointing out that commercial areas, places of worship, public transport and prominent government buildings are not safe, it advised that one should be vigilant in the lead up to and on days of national significance like Independence Day (August 15) and Republic Day (January 26). It was also pointed out that the militants had used such occasions in the past to strike terror.

Canadian Foreign Affairs and International Trade Department has said that there could be delays in Mumbai and other places. In this context, it advised its citizens to avoid non-essential movements .

UNI

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